Backgrounder: Zambia

Source: CCTV.com | 02-05-2007 08:27

Zambia is located in southern Africa. Its capital city is Lusaka. There are about 11.3 million citizens, most of whom are Africans.

Zambia is listed by the United Nations as one of the least developed countries in the world. But the country is rich in natural resources, with growth coming from the copper mining and processing industry.

China and Zambia established diplomatic relations on October 29, 1964. Bilateral relations between the two countries have developed smoothly since then. High-level visits have been frequent, and both sides share similar views on international affairs.

Politically, China has actively supported the Zambian government in its efforts to consolidate independence and struggle against western colonialism. China also helped build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which later became a symbol of friendship between China and Zambia, and Africa in general.

The two countries have signed several trade deals on economic and technical cooperation.

Since 1967, China has undertaken 35 aid-projects, including those for building railways, roads, factories, and improving water supplies.

Other types of cooperative ventures have been explored. In 1997, the Bank of China opened its Zambian branch, which was the first branch opened by the bank in the sub-Saharan region. That same year, the China Investment and Trade Developing Center was set up in Zambia.

Bilateral trade volume reached a healthy 103 million US dollars in 2005.

And exchange programs in the fields of culture, education and health have been fruitful as well. China has admitted Zambian students to its universities, and a group of Chinese teachers has been sent to teach there. There are also over 30 Chinese medical personnel currently working in Zambia.

Editor:Du Xiaodan