By OLIVER SAMBOKO
CHINA will always remain a reliable friend and sincere development partner to the Zambian government and its people, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, DU Xiaohui has retaliated.
He was speaking at the official opening ceremony for 2023 Short-term Training Programs dubbed Seminar on Leadership Development for Zambia to be held from 14th to 28th April 14 to 28, 2023 in Zhejiang province.
The training program will be the first in-person to be hosted by China for Zambia after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ambassador Du said the all-weather friendship between China and Zambia initiated by the founding fathers Chairman Mao Zedong and President Kenneth David Kaunda will always remain the cornerstone of development cooperation between the nations.
He said as part of continued cooperation between his country and Zambia, President Xi Jinping and President Hichilema had had successful telephone conversation, marking new progress in the bilateral relations.
Mr Du revealed that in 2022 the bilateral trade between China and Zambia reached $6.73 billion US dollars, up by 30.2 percent year on year, creating a new historical record.
He last month, he joined President Hakainde Hichilema at the opening ceremony of the 750 megawatts plus 12-megawatt Kafue Gorge Lower Project which is are a testament to the substantial support and assistance that the all-weather friendship has brought to Zambia.
Ambassador Du said as part of effort to help Zambian on its developmental path, since 2014, more than 6,000 Zambians have been trained in three programs provided by China, namely, the Multilateral Training Program, the Bilateral Training Program and the MOFCOM Degree Education Program.
“The programs have invited people from various fields, including officials and technical staff from relevant government departments and institutions, professors and faculty members of Zambian universities, doctors, journalists, and experts from think tanks and research institutes,” he said.
He said the training programs also cover agriculture, health, energy, mining, infrastructure, trade, tourism and other areas, dedicated to turning Zambia’s strength in human resources into competitiveness in economic development, so as to bring more benefits to the people.
He said China will always deliver on its promises and ensure the promotion of people-to-people friendship and harmonious coexistence, adding that China-Zambia training cooperation also emphasizes on advancement of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, that create sound environment for mutual beneficial cooperation between China and Zambia.
Meanwhile, speaking at the same event, Office of the Vice president, Permanent Secretary Lillian Kapusana, the leadership development training program is very important to Zambia’s development s if falls under tier three of the 8th national development.
She the country wants to learn more from China because the Chinese development model is working considering the development China has achieved over the years.
Ms Kapusana said the new dawn government developmental agenda is anchored on the 8th national development and the vision 2030.
