Chinese premier calls for building closer China-Zambia community with shared future

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday said China is ready to work with Zambia to advance their modernization drive, build a closer China-Zambia community with a shared future, and better benefit the people of both countries.

Li made the remarks during talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. The premier landed in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, on Wednesday for an official visit to the African country.

China is willing to work with Zambia to expand bilateral trade, explore the potential for cooperation in areas such as mining, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence, as well as strengthen cooperation in areas such as healthcare, agriculture and human resource development, to enhance the public's sense of gain from China-Zambia cooperation, Li said.

He called on both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, and other fields to solidify the public opinion foundation for cooperation between the two countries.

Li called for joint efforts with Tanzania and Zambia to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. Describing the revitalization of the railway as a common aspiration of the people of the three countries, he called on the three sides to strengthen policy coordination and jointly carry out subsequent comprehensive development to drive better development of the countries and regions along the route.

China and Zambia should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, work with the vast number of Global South countries to safeguard the international economic and trade order, as well as fairness and justice, and defend their common interests, the premier said.

Hichilema said Zambia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, pledging to strengthen high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, mining, agriculture, infrastructure construction, and cultural exchanges.

Zambia highly appreciates the four global initiatives proposed by China and is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)