China reaffirms all-weather partnership with Zambia

By MUBITA KATETE

ZAMBIA’S relations with China have received a major boost after the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledged continued support for Zambia as an “all-weather friend” and called for stronger people-to-people relations between the two countries.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun gave the assurance when a Zambian civil society delegation drawn from nine organisations held talks with him and senior officials from the Department of African Affairs in Beijing.

Mr Guo said China looked forward to strengthening cooperation with the Zambian Government and deepening relations between the people of the two countries.

He said China had the tools and experience to help Zambia achieve its development objectives and reduce poverty, but stressed that Zambians themselves would have to provide the hard work required to transform the country.

Delegation leader and Civil Society Consortium chairperson Isaac Mwanza thanked China and the Department of African Affairs for providing a platform for civil society to engage directly with officials responsible for Africa’s foreign policy.

Mr Mwanza said the engagement demonstrated China’s openness to the voice of the people and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Zambia and China based on mutual respect, solidarity and shared development aspirations.

NGOCC board chairperson Beauty Katebe urged China to ensure that women were not left behind as cooperation between the two countries expanded.

Ms Katebe said women were at the centre of Zambia’s development and should be deliberately included as beneficiaries, partners and decision-makers in Zambia-China cooperation programmes.

And SACCORD executive director Arthur Muyunda, who is also deputy delegation leader, called on China to work closely with President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration and civil society in advancing the Grow Zambia Agenda.

“Ending poverty requires not only a change of mindset among our people towards work, but also worthy partners like China with its technological tools and human face,” Mr Muyunda said.

He said the Zambian delegation was in China not as spectators, but as patriotic partners seeking practical lessons, partnerships and opportunities that could uplift communities and empower women and young people.

Mr Muyunda said the delegation was proud to represent Zambia with one voice and demonstrate that Zambians were ready to work hard, learn and build a prosperous nation in partnership with genuine friends.

The meeting ended with both sides emphasising that the future of Zambia-China relations should extend beyond government-to-government cooperation to stronger people-to-people bonds.

The delegation is in China at the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in Lusaka for a civil society exchange visit covering Beijing, Qingdao and Yantai in Shandong Province.

ENDS