Zimbabwe and the Chinese province of Jiangxi on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the supply of irrigation, tillage, road construction, mechanical and surveying equipment.

Visiting Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Sun Gang, and Water Resources and Infrastructure Development Minister, Munacho Mutezo, signed the memorandum at the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Headquarters on Thursday.

Vice President Joyce Mujuru and officials from the District Development Fund, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and the Department of Irrigation witnessed the signing of the Memorandum.

The three departments are expected to benefit from the Memorandum of Understanding, which will last for five years and is subject to renewal.

Speaking before the signing ceremony, Mujuru said the visit by the Chinese delegation would further cement the strong relations between the two countries.

China was carrying out a number of development projects in the country, including construction of dams, she said.

"These include Valley Dam in Matebeleland and Marovanyika Dam in Manicaland," she said.

"Recently they (Chinese) have been awarded Bindura Dam in Mashonaland Central and we are looking forward to them carrying out the Kunzvi Dam close to Harare."

Construction of Kunzvi Dam is expected to end Harare's water woes.

Mujuru said the Zimbabwe government was determined to move away from rain fed agriculture to irrigation in order to improve food security.

Resources meant for food imports could then be directed toward other development programs such as infrastructure development and procurement of essential drugs, she added.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a follow up to an agreement that President Robert Mugabe signed when he visited China in July this year.

The Zimbabwe government has adopted a deliberate policy to move away from traditional partners and markets in the West to establishing new ones in the East.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2005)