China respects Mugabe's decision

Ex-President Robert Mugabe has met Chinese leaders a number of times

China says it "respects Robert Mugabe's decision to resign, and he is still a good friend of the Chinese people".

China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang added that China's policy toward Zimbabwe would not change.

China's relations with Zimbabwe are deep, starting during the Rhodesian bush war.

Mr Mugabe failed in 1979 to get Soviet backing, so turned to China, which provided his guerrilla fighters with weapons and training.