Chinese president pledges to boost bilateral ties with Zambia

Source: CCTV.com | 02-05-2007 14:38

Chinese President Hu Jintao is continuing his visit to Zambia. While meeting with the leaders of the country, Hu pledges to boost bilateral ties. He also attended the launching ceremony of the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met with the speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, on Sunday. During their talk, the Chinese president extolled the close relationship between the two countries, pledging China to remain a reliable friend, a helpful partner, and a good brother to the southern African country.

Hu said that communications between the legislative bodies of both countries constituted an important part of Sino-Zambian relations. China's National People's Congress and the National Assembly of Zambia have maintained close contact and worked side by side in such diverse fields as economics, agriculture, education, health, and culture.

President Hu also met with former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. Hu commended Kaunda's contribution to the long-standing friendship. Kaunda is one of the few surviving African leaders who have met and worked with several generations of Chinese leaders.

In fact, it was during Kaunda's tenure that China assisted Zambia and Tanzania to build a railway in the 1970s, which linked the land-locked Zambia with a port in Tanzania.

As part of their efforts to bolster economic ties, President Hu and his Zambian counterpart, Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, jointly inaugurated the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in the country.

The first of its kind between China and an African country, the zone's establishment is part of China's efforts to fulfill its promises at the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation. The forum took place last November in Beijing, with the goal of fostering even closer cooperation between China and African nations.

According to President Hu, the Chinese government fully encourages and supports qualified Chinese enterprises to invest in the zone and contribute to Zambia's economic development and social progress.

For his part, President Mwanawasa vowed to improve the investment environment and hoped that more Chinese and foreign enterprises will settle in the zone, bringing along with them the expertise necessary for the development of the zone, as well as Zambia at large.

The zone, located in Zambia's Copper Belt Province, will form a production chain, with the Chambisi Copper Smelter at its core. It is expected to add to the growth of Zambia's light industries, increase the country's exports, and create job opportunities for locals.

President Hu arrived in Zambia on Saturday on a three-day state visit. Zambia is the fourth leg of his eight-nation African tour, which has so far taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, and Sudan. The Chinese president will also travel to Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, and Seychelles.

Editor:Du Xiaodan