China and Zambia on Monday inked the contract for the
construction of a 40,000-capacity stadium donated by the Chinese
government in Lusaka.
Head of the Chinese architecture delegation Zhang Zijun signed
on behalf of his team and the Chinese government while Permanent
Secretary of Zambian Works and Supply Ministry Bizwayo Nkunika
signed on behalf of the Zambian government.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to
Zambia Li Qiangmin said the project is a real testimony of the
friendship between the two countries and the two peoples, adding
that Zambia is one of the biggest beneficiary countries enjoying
Chinese donations.
Li reiterated his government's support to Zambia's development
programs and urged more cooperation between China and Zambia.
"It's just one step of the long march," Li said, "we need more
understandings."
Zambian Sports Minister Gabriel Namulambe, who also attended the
signing ceremony, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government,
saying the signing is the fruit of the enduring friendship shared
by the Chinese and Zambian government and the two peoples.
Namulambe applauded the highly-efficient work of the Chinese
engineering team during its three-week stay in Zambia and said the
Zambian government would respond promptly to any concerns to be
raised by Chinese experts in the execution of their duties.
The 13-member Chinese panel from the Beijing Institute of
Architectural Design arrived in Zambia on August 31 for a site
investigation of the China-funded stadium project which is hailed
by Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa as one of the major outcomes
during his visit to China in 2006.
The further-to-be stadium, designed to have modern sports and
security facilities with 40,000 seats, is one of the largest
project donated by the Chinese government to African countries
since last year's China-Africa summit.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)
