China is hoping for credible, transparent and smooth national elections in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the head of the Chinese election observer team said.

Liu Guijin, who leads a five-man observation team from Beijing, told a news conference in Harare on Tuesday that the Chinese government and people care "no less" than any other people or governments about Zimbabwe's elections.

Zimbabweans went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a president, 210 lawmakers and nearly 2,000 local councilors. The country's President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are considered the main candidates in the battle for the presidency.

Liu, the former Chinese government special envoy on Africa affairs, said there were good indications for peaceful and credible elections based on the information the observers had gathered on the ground.

"Judging from the political will of the parties and stakeholders, we have good reason to believe that Zimbabwe will have a smooth election without violence and avoid the phenomenon of the 2008 elections, and we have reasons to hope for the best," Liu said.

"China enjoys very good relations with Zimbabwe, so we are here at the invitation of the unity government to show goodwill, solidarity and support for the effort of the elections."

Liu said the upcoming elections could be a milestone in the political and social development of Zimbabwe and a transition period for the coalition government.

"We believe Zimbabwe has every condition to be much better-off than it is today," he said.

Liu also said the election is not just of vital importance to Zimbabwe, but also important to the southern African region and China-Zimbabwe relations.

Liu said the bilateral relations could only develop faster and more healthily after a credible, transparent and peaceful election.

(China Daily 08/01/2013 page12)