Zimbabwe's largest university will soon begin teaching Chinese, in the latest example of increased ties between the Beijing and Harare governments.
Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper reports that Chinese and Zimbabwean officials signed a deal Wednesday to introduce Chinese language and culture instruction at the University of Zimbabwe.
The department will be known as the Confucius Institute, after the famous Chinese thinker and educator.
Zimbabwe is promoting a so-called "Look East" policy of boosting ties with Asia. Officials hope to sidestep the isolation imposed by Western nations that accuse Zimbabwe's government of human rights abuses.
Last month, Harare purchased six fighter jets from China. It was the second such purchase in a year.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.