HARARE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Thursday pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation with China to the benefit of the two nations.

The country thanked China for its donation of 800,000 U.S. dollars, rice and other relief items for victims of Cyclone Idai which hit the country last month.

In a speech at a welcoming reception for China's new ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun, Zimbabwe's minister of public service Sekai Nzenza said economic cooperation between the two countries had soared to new heights.

Nzenza said the nation is grateful for the donations generously given for people affected by Cyclone Idai by China.

She said Zimbabwe attaches great importance to deepening bilateral cooperation with China under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Guo pledged to further strengthen ties between the two countries, saying the two countries have enjoyed 39 years of sincere friendship marked with frequent high level exchanges, mutual understanding and political trust.

"Our relationship in the past 39 years is a relationship of mutually beneficial cooperation and our trade and investment volumes have expanded tremendously with Zimbabwe becoming one of the top African nations in receiving financial assistance and investment from China," Guo said.

He said the various infrastructure projects being funded and constructed by China in Zimbabwe will become new symbols of friendship between the two countries.