Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has arrived in Zimbabwe at the start of a five-nation tour of Africa.

中国外交部长杨洁篪抵达津巴布韦，开始了对五个非洲国家的访问之旅。

He described the country as a "good brother" to China, ahead of an expected meeting with President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Yang will be discussing the growing trade and aid relationship between China and Zimbabwe.

China's ties with regimes subject to sanctions by the West has been a source of controversy¹ but China has defended its role on the continent.

"China is ready to work with Zimbabwe to further enhance political mutual² trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and steadily³ elevate（提升，举起） our friendship and cooperation," said Mr Yang on his arrival.

"China sets store by its relations with Zimbabwe and regards Zimbabwe as a good friend, good brother and good partner."

He will hold separate meetings with President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, and his counterpart Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.

He is then scheduled to open an agricultural research centre at a college outside the capital, said China's ambassador in Harare Xin Shunkang.

Landmark⁴

Figures from the national statistics agency suggest China exported $159m (£99m) worth of goods to Zimbabwe last year.

The China Development Bank has plans to spend $10bn in Zimbabwe's mining, agriculture and infrastructure⁵（基础设施） sectors⁶, according to comments made several weeks ago by Zimbabwe's investment promotion⁷ minister.

China's ties with Zimbabwe, which go back to pre-independence times, have helped protect the Mugabe regime at the United Nations.

The Chinese use of its veto（否决权） in 2008 was "a landmark diplomatic decision where it basically saved Zimbabwe from punitive⁸（惩罚的） sanctions instigated⁹（唆使，煽动） by an irate¹⁰（生气的） and sulky former colonial power", the Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Mr Mumbengegwi as saying.

"So, now this visit will give an opportunity for Zimbabweans to finally thank China for this act," he said.

Chinese support for the Mugabe government is behind the presence of Mr Mugabe's daughter at university in Hong Kong, and the controversial visits by Mr and Mrs Mugabe to the former British colony in recent years.

China plans to expand the relationship to "a larger scale, broader scope and higher level", according to a policy paper released by the state information office in December 2010.

Disturbances¹¹ on Monday highlighted the tensions surrounding foreign investment in the country.