Leaders hail China-Africa connections

China, Zambia to build on friendly relationship

President Xi Jinping called on China and Zambia to work together to advance their respective modernization and usher in a new chapter of friendly China-Zambia relations, as he met visiting Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Beijing on Wednesday.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi highlighted the elevation of China-Zambia relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year. He said that mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, and fruitful results have been achieved in mutually beneficial cooperation over the past year. He said China and Zambia need to continue to enhance exchanges at all levels, strengthen mutual learning, expand practical cooperation and bolster international collaboration.

Noting the summit comes at an opportune time, Hichilema said Africa admires the great achievements made by China, and hopes to learn from its successful experiences to bring more benefits to the African people.

He said he was pleased to witness with Xi a commitment to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority railway to continue the friendship built by previous generations of leaders of both countries and create a new channel for connectivity between Africa and China.

While pledging the country's firm commitment to the one-China principle, Hichilema said Zambia is willing to deepen all-around cooperation with China and welcome more Chinese companies to invest.

Zambia appreciates China's constructive role in promoting global peace and stability, and is ready to closely cooperate with China in multilateral affairs, he added.