China and Zambia agreed to enhance practical cooperation in areas of fighting COVID-19, infrastructure construction, and improving people's livelihood, among others, as Zambian President Edgar Lungu met with visiting senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, on Monday.

China supports Zambia in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions, said Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee. 

Yang is currently on a five-day trip to four countries. He has previously visited Qatar and Uganda and the next and final stop will be Kuwait. 

China and Zambia have always treated each other as equals with sincerity, friendship, mutual benefit, and win-win results. Yang said. China will strengthen exchanges with Zambia at all levels, deepen the traditional friendship and political mutual trust and coordinate development strategies. 

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and Zambia have helped each other and overcome difficulties together, demonstrating with concrete actions the true meaning of good friends, good partners, and good brothers, said Yang.

Yang added that China and Zambia have always supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

China and Zambia have coordinated and cooperated in international affairs and jointly upheld multilateralism. China is ready to strengthen close coordination with African countries including Zambia and push for new achievements in China-Africa cooperation in the new era, said Yang.

Lungu asked Yang to convey his New Year greetings and best wishes to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people, and warmly congratulated on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, which has led the Chinese people to make huge achievements. 

Zambia and China are true all-weather friends. The two countries share the same views on many major issues and the cooperation in various fields is progressing smoothly, said Lungu.

Zambia thanks China for its long-term support and assistance, Lungu said. It will firmly adhere to the one-China policy and is willing to work with China to enhance pragmatic cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples, he added. 

Yang also met with Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and other cabinet members on Monday.

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(With input from Xinhua)