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Roundup: Zambia, China to Seek New, Stronger Cooperation
When Zambian President Frederick Chiluba left Lusaka for Beijing last Thursday to attend the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, scheduled to start on Tuesday, he was looking forward to a new, stronger relationship with China.
Describing the forum as "a wonderful move to break away from the past aid methods", Chiluba said the relationship between Zambia and China is now being "transformed from one of charity into one of partnership" and "we are seeing a new area of economic cooperation".
The prospects for Africa-China cooperation, and Zambia-China cooperation in particular, will be brighter, he said confidently in an exclusive interview with Xinhua hours before he left for China.
China is a fast growing economic giant and will offer Africa a lot of opportunities in terms of trade and investment, he said, adding that "Zambia certainly wants to further strengthen its very good and warm relations with China."
In the past, the Zambian president said, China rendered assistance not only to Zambia, but also to many other African countries for them to break the yoke of colonialism, and now it "is helping us to move from our over-dependence on grants and loans to where we can work together to produce wealth and share as partnership".
Chiluba appreciated the investment by Chinese in various sectors of his country including mining, textile, banking, agriculture and health, saying his current trip is also one for him to market Zambia's investment opportunities to Chinese business community.
He praised Chinese as really "all-weather friends" to work and trade with, saying there is no area that China can not venture into. Zambia is very rich in land and water resources and has great potentials in agriculture development. Some Chinese farms, such as China-Zambia Friendship Farm in a Lusaka suburb, have been running very well, he noted.
Actually, the economic cooperation between the two countries has been further enhanced in recent years. Mulungushi Textiles Factory, a project launched by China in early 1980s, has played an important role in Zambia's textile industry and economic development as a whole. Over 60 percent of textiles sold at the local market comes from the factory and the products are exported to more than 10 neighboring countries.
China's investment in Zambia's copper mine industry will also help foster strong economic links between the two countries to the mutual benefit of the two peoples, said Zambian Mines Minister Syamukayumbu Syamujaye on July 28 this year. He said the Chambishi copper mine in northern Zambia taken over by a Chinese company in 1998 and undergoing two and half years' rehabilitation starting from last July, is expected to create 1,000 job opportunities for Zambians and boast of producing 45,000 tons of copper a year.
The fruitful economic cooperation between Zambia and China has been backed by the strong political will of the two sides, which have witnessed frequent exchange of visits by high-ranking government officials.
In 1997 Chinese Premier Li Peng (now Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress) visited Zambia in his seven-nation trip to Africa. In 1995 Chinese Vice Premier Zhu Rongji (now premier) paid a visit to Zambia.
On his part, president Chiluba paid his first visit to China in 1993, two years after he came power. The central subject discussed by the leaders was deeper understanding and broader cooperation between the two countries.
"I am going to China with the hope that something good will come off this visit. I believe Zambia can benefit a lot from China. We want a partnership with China," he said prior to his current China trip, adding that the forum is "very important, which I can not miss."
During his 11-day stay in China, Chiluba will discuss with Chinese leaders on how to further the bilateral relations and tour six cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao.
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