H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema is leading the largest ever delegation since he took office to China on a State Visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping on 10-16 September 2023. This has also made President Hichilema the first leader of a southern African country to be received by President Xi within the year. The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to cement and deepen China-Zambia friendship and take the bilateral relationship to the next level, building on the consensus they reached last year during a telephone conversation.

It will be a visit to renew the friendly tradition. Zambia was the first country from the southern part of Africa to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. Since then, under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong and President Kenneth Kaunda, the two countries have rendered firm support to each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns. That was how China-Zambia All-Weather Friendship came into being. Back in the 1970s, China, amidst economic hardship at home, decided to assist, at the request of Zambian and Tanzanian governments, in the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA). Last year, the TAZARA Memorial Park was opened in Lusaka, to honour the 36 Chinese nationals who laid down their lives during TAZARA construction. As President Hichilema rightly pointed out at the commissioning ceremony of the Park, the current generation has a duty to carry on the spirit of TAZARA exhibited during its construction. The best way to remember the heroes is to keep this friendly tradition alive.

It will be a visit to enhance cooperation. China and Zambia have, over the years, conducted close cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in a wide range of practical areas. The Zambia-China Cooperation Zone was unveiled in 2007, the first economic and trade cooperation zone established by China in Africa, which has since attracted over 100 Chinese businesses, with a total investment of more than USD$2.5 billion. The First China-Zambia Trade and Investment Forum was held last year, which helped 400 Chinese and Zambian businesses establish links. China granted zero-tariff treatment for 98% of the taxable export items originated from Zambia. Zambian blueberries and honey have found their way to the Chinese market, while two-way trade registered a record USD$6.73 billion in 2022, up by 30.2% over the previous year. President Hichilema reaffirmed at the opening ceremony of the Trade and Investment Forum the readiness of Zambia to take concrete steps to attract Chinese investment and engage in practical cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples. This year the Chinese-built Kafue Gorge Lower Hydropower Station came into operation, the largest infrastructure project of Zambia in the past four decades.

It will be a visit to shape the future. China is making a shift from its old growth pattern to one that gives priority to technological innovation and green development as main drivers of economy. The Chinese and Zambian economies are cut out for each other. Future economic cooperation can focus on the agriculture, green energy and connectivity sectors, where innovative models of cooperation can be explored to address financing issues and improve both quantity and quality of trade and investment. I understand that President Hichilema takes a profound interest in governance ideas, and during this visit, he will see for himself how Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Ningde are governed, where economic takeoff stories and poverty alleviation miracles took place. I look forward to new ideas from President Hichilema on how China-Zambia cooperation could move forward when he is back from China.

I see this very important visit as a springboard for China-Zambia cooperation in all fields, and my Embassy and I stand ready to put into practice what is to be agreed by the two Heads-of-State, not just to carry on the fine tradition of All-Weather Friendship, but also to deliver real results in practical cooperation, for the people of China and Zambia.

（By H.E. Du Xiaohui, Ambassador of China to Zambia）