Zimbabwean Vice President Joyce Mujuru applauded business ties with China, the official New Agencythe New Ziana reported on Oct.2 (Sunday).

Mujuru made the remark on Sept.30 (Friday) at the official launch of the Zimbabwe-China Business Council. She applauded the formation of the council saying that it was a demonstration that the business in Zimbabwe had come of age and prepared to open a new page to the economic emancipation of the country.

The council would be expected to complement the government's Look East Policy and increase trade between the two countries.

She also defended the quality of Chinese goods imported to the country, saying the notion that goods from China are of poor quality was killing development in the country.

Council chairperson Daniel Chiwandamira said that there was need to exploit opportunities in China after Zimbabwe failed to benefit economically from political frameworks with other countries.

The Zimbabwe-China Business Council is a non-profit making organization that the private sector was leading in partnership with the government.

It was seeking to stimulate and support trade and investment in goods and services, achieve a greater economic growth for Zimbabweand promote closer business-to-business relations with China.

Members included individual business people as well as the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce.