Zambian President hails China links

[ Relationship ]

* Visit will strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries

* The two sides have been experiencing a cordial, warm and brotherly friendship through the whole period

ZAMBIA: Zambian President Rupiah Banda speaks highly of the efforts China has made in helping his country develop, describing relationship with China as most honourable.

The President made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua prior to his scheduled visit to China late February.

Banda said the visit will strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries which are based on mutual trust, transparency, South-South Cooperation and a win-win relationship. He said that since Zambia and China established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, the two sides have been experiencing a cordial, warm and brotherly friendship through the whole period.

The president noted that China has been an all-weather friend to Zambia. During the current global crisis, while other investors were pulling out and laying off employees, the Chinese investors, instead, continued to invest in Zambia.

The China Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Cooperation even offered to run suspended Luanshya Copper Mine and reopened it, creating employment and assisting to secure the livelihood of local people in the mining area. “As we all know, China is one of the biggest investors and source of financing. All the countries in the world are competing for Chinese investment. My delegation includes some Zambian business houses and therefore I expect that strategic partnerships and stronger ties will be developed between our peoples,” said Banda.

Xinhua