Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao announced in Lusaka Saturday a package of measures to boost fully-fledged cooperation with Zambia.

Hu announced the measures at a press briefing after his talks with Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 42 years ago, the two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges with their mutual political trust increasing, and Sino-Zambian ties have "endured the test of changes in the international arena and both countries' domestic situation," Hu said.

Bilateral economic cooperation also developed rapidly in recent years. China has become Zambia's third largest overseas investor in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure, mining and finance, the Chinese president said.

The two countries have also conducted close coordination on multilateral occasions, including the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Hu said.

The president said his African tour aimed at promptly making these measures take effect so as to bring benefits to the African people.

For Zambia in particular, the Chinese president listed a package of measures, including:

-- Cancelling debts to China in the form of interest-free government loans that matured by the end of 2005.

-- Opening up the Chinese market by increasing items of zero-tariff Zambian exports to China from 190 to 442.

-- Setting up an economic and trade zone in Zambia.

-- Building a stadium in the Zambian city of Ndola, which could help turn Zambia into a major host of sports events in Africa.

-- Building an agricultural technology demonstration center, two rural schools, a hospital, and an anti-malaria center.

-- Offering 117 Chinese government-funded scholarships between 2007 and 2008 and training more professionals for Zambia.

-- Sending agricultural experts and youth volunteers to Zambia.

President Hu flew into Lusaka from Khartoum, capital of Sudan.

Zambia is the fourth leg of Hu's eight-nation African tour, which has already taken him to Cameroon, Liberia and Sudan. He will also visit Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles.

Source: Xinhua