Zambian former and incumbent officials spoke highly of the
relations between the country and China as Chinese President Hu
Jintao is to start on Tuesday a tour of eight African nations,
including Zambia, local media reported on Monday.
Former secretary general Grey Zulu of the former ruling United
National Independent Party (UNIP) told Zambia Daily Mail in
an interview at the weekend that "Zambia and China have enjoyed a
good relationship with the latter helping Zambia in a number of
programs and projects during the UNIP era and now."
The two countries have enjoyed a cordial relationship since the
time the 1,860-km TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia Railway) was constructed
by China in 1970s, he said.
"After realizing that our country was landlocked, we thought
that a railway into Tanzania would reduce dependence on the then
Southern Rhodesia and South Africa routes when it came to exporting
and importing goods," he said.
TAZARA, as one of the first notable collaborations between the
Zambian and Chinese governments, became a political, economic and
cultural center for people living along the railway in their
respective localities, he said.
In addition, the railway also played a positive role in
supporting the struggle for national liberation in southern Africa,
he said.
Construction of the railway line that became a source of
livelihood between Zambia and Tanzania through enhanced trade was
not done in an exploitative manner, he said.
"The Chinese people are not imposing in their relationships with
other countries especially those in Africa," Zulu said.
Incumbent Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Vernon
Mwaanga told the newspaper that the bilateral cooperation dates way
back.
"The relationship between Zambia and China has been good and
growing with quality while at the same time building on mutual
grounds," he said.
He cited investment ventures and other projects being
implemented by China as some of the indicators of good cooperation
between the two countries.
Mwaanga said the projects range from agricultural projects to
assistance in various fields such as the public media and in the
area of telecommunication.
Publicity and information chairperson Benny Tetamashimba of the
ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) said that the
Chinese government has assisted Zambia especially in its road
infrastructure sector where a lot of roads countrywide are done by
China.
Apart from the road infrastructure that China has tremendously
improved in Zambia, several other investments across the country
have been initiated by China, said the MMD official.
A close look into several relationships that China has had with
Africa indicates that the Chinese government has long attached
great importance to its relationship with Africa, and the promotion
of friendship and cooperation, said the newspaper.
(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2007)
