Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema met in Beijing on Wednesday during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), pledging to enhance their countries’ modernization and write a new chapter in China-Zambia relations.
Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Zambia, Xi emphasized the importance of the summit as an opportunity to jointly advance modernization efforts and strengthen bilateral relations.
Xi highlighted the continuous enhancement of mutual trust and the fruitful results of mutually beneficial cooperation since the elevation of their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year.
Both leaders agreed on the need to intensify exchanges at all levels, deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and strengthen international coordination.
Xi expressed China’s willingness to share development opportunities with Zambia, encouraging Chinese enterprises to actively participate in Zambia’s sectors such as new energy, water resources development, and electricity to support Zambia and Africa’s industrialization and modernization.
Recognizing Zambia’s important role in the establishment of FOCAC in 2000, Xi stated China’s readiness to work with Zambia and other African countries to ensure the summit’s success and inject new impetus into China-Zambia and China-Africa relations.
Hichilema acknowledged significant progress in bilateral cooperation since his visit to China last year and expressed honor at witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway.
He noted that the revitalization project would continue the friendship forged by previous generations of leaders and build a new channel for Africa-China connectivity.
Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and expressed willingness to comprehensively deepen cooperation, continuously upgrading the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He welcomed more Chinese enterprises to invest in Zambia.
Praising China’s commitment to promoting peace talks and its constructive role in global peace and stability, Hichilema appreciated China’s outstanding leadership in international affairs and expressed readiness to work closely with China on multilateral cooperation.
The meeting between the two leaders signifies a strengthening of ties and a shared vision for future cooperation, marking a significant milestone in China-Zambia relations.
Reference(s):
Xi Jinping says China ready to join Zambia for new chapter of ties
cgtn.com
