Chinese Premier counts Zambia’s success, talks cooperation
By Mast Reporter
THE government of China notes that in recent years, Zambia has pressed ahead with reform and development, maintained fast economic growth and made remarkable achievements in national development under the leadership of President Hichilema.
Prime Minister Li Qiang described Zambia as a country with important influence on the African continent and home to magnificent natural landscape and hardworking and kind people.
Li said this in Lusaka on his arrival yesterday on an official visit to Zambia.
“It gives me great pleasure to pay an official visit to Zambia at the invitation of President Hakainde Hichilema. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to extend warm greetings and best wishes to the government and people of Zambia,” Li said.
He said as Zambia’s good friend and good partner, China was truly gratified by what the country has achieved.
“We hope and believe that Zambia will make even greater accomplishments on the road to development and revitalisation.
Zambia is also the first country in Southern Africa to enter into diplomatic relations with China, and our two countries enjoy a profound traditional friendship,” Li said.
He noted that over the decades, despite changes in the international landscape, China and Zambia had always respected, trusted and supported each other, and jointly forged the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation represented by the Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) spirit.
Li said in recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Hichilema, the two countries had continued to deepen political mutual trust and carried out fruitful cooperation in various areas, setting a fine example of solidarity and collaboration among developing countries.
“In September 2024, our presidents had a meeting on the sidelines of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and charted the course for further deepening the China-Zambia comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership,” he said.
“China is ready to work with Zambia to carry forward our traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, foster stronger people-to-people ties, and move forward hand in hand on the path to modernisation.”
Li said in a world fraught with transformation and turbulence, China would also work with Zambia to strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral affairs and bring countries of the Global South together in maintaining global order, safeguarding international fairness and justice and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Li is Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
