ZIMBABWE places value to news agencies that report accurately about the political and economic situation in the country, Vice President Joice Mujuru said yesterday.

She said news agencies from Western countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe have been negative in their reportage on the country.

VP Mujuru said this during a meeting with visiting Xinhua News Agency editor-in-chief and member of the Communist Party of China, Mr He Ping, at her Munhumutapa offices in Harare.

Mr Ping and his delegation have been in the country for the past three days.

Said VP Mujuru: "We appreciate news agencies such as Xinhua that help us to portray our country accurately. It has been difficult to put across our economic, social and political issues because some agencies always look at us with a negative eye.

"Countries that illegally imposed economic sanctions have not done justice to our situation and they have always been hostile to us."

VP Mujuru said although the country's economy had registered some growth in the past few years, more needed to be done, especially for people in the rural areas.

"We still have a lot of work to do as a country. Our currency has disappeared and we have been forced to use the United States dollar. The nine percent growth we have realised does not translate to our rural people.

"About 75 percent of our people live in the rural areas and there is need for Government to work hard in making them self-sufficient at household level," she said.

The Vice President also hailed the relationship between Zanu-PF and CPC that dates back to the liberation struggle.

Mr He said Xinhua attached great importance to Sino-Zim relations and would continue reporting objectively.

"We set our Harare branch in 1980 when you got independence and we have worked closely since then.

"We want to objectively report your development in all sectors. We are both developing countries and have similar understanding about issues," he said.

Mr He added: "We pay attention to development issues and what you have achieved should be protected jealously.

"Though we are the largest developing country, there is no doubt you have also made remarkable achievements in your economy and we will continue to support each other."

Mr He paid a courtesy call on Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu, who underscored the need for media institutions to unite in the fight against imperialism.

"Xinhua has always told the true story about Zimbabwe on our behalf at a time there has been increasing onslaught from Western countries.

"We will continue to uphold the policy annunciated by President Mugabe when he called all nations to adopt the Look East Policy.

"Quite a number of African countries are working with you as they continue to develop," said Minister Shamu.

He urged China to continue supporting Zimbabwe until it achieves economic independence.

"Sanctions have affected us but the road we have travelled together which saw us achieving political independence is still ongoing. This brotherhood will definitely see us achieving economic independence," he said.

Minister Shamu said there should be more exchanges of news between China and Zimbabwe.

"Your coming here will go a long way in cementing the relationship between news agencies but we would want to see more exchanges between media practitioners and the provision of technical assistance," he said.

Mr He said Zimbabwe had a "beautiful and prosperous" future if supported adequately.

"Our interests are in developing countries and you have shown us the potential you have by the growth you registered economically last year," he said.

The delegation leaves the country today.