"We do believe that this issue fundamentally has to be solved by the various elements in Zimbabwe and we believe that the stand taken by the AU, by SADC, are vitally important," said Yang at the end of the last leg of his four-nation African tour, referring to the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

Yang said it was important that Zimbabwe's rival parties implement a stalled power-sharing deal and added that talks to be revived by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe on Monday were key to the crisis' resolution.

"We support this mediated activity. We don't think that sanctions are the way out. This remains China's policy," he told reporters after a meeting with his South African counterpart outside Cape Town.

China and South Africa have both come under sharp criticism from the West on their stance on Zimbabwe, joining hands at the United Nations Security Council in blocking efforts to have the crisis placed on the agenda.

He praised the Southern African Development Community and South Africa for their efforts in mediating the crisis in Zimbabwe since failed elections last March plunged the country into political turmoil.

An outbreak of cholera has since killed 2,225 people and the once prosperous economy has plunged to record lows with rampant hyperinflation as the rival political leaders fail to agree on a unity government.

The European Union, also in a meeting with South Africa Friday, said it was considering further restrictive measures against Mugabe.

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