Thursday, March 28, 2024

China gives Zambia over K2.4 bn concessional loan

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The Chinese government has given Zambia a concessional loan amounting to over K2.4 billion (361 million Chinese Yuan) for the construction of mobile hospitals.

And Zambia and China have signed four agreements in the areas of economy, technical and education.

Visiting State Councillor of China, Dai BingGuo said his country has also provided a grant of K203.4 million (30 million Chinese Yuan) to be used for undisclosed projects.

“ China will continue to provide assistance to Zambia within its capacity. On the current visit, China will once again provide to Zambia a grant totaling to 30 million Chinese Yuan to be used for already agreed projects,” he said through an interpreter.

Mr. Dai said his government would further consider providing a preferential export biased credit to Zambia to support the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road and a housing programme for civil servants.

He was speaking at State House in Lusaka today when he held talks with Vice President George Kunda.

He said the frequent exchange of visits by the two countries’ Presidents and other high level delegations between the two countries have yielded positive results that include concretisation and deepening of their political and economic cooperation.

Mr. Dai said China was ready to work with Zambian people in implementing agreements designed and signed by the leaders of the two countries.

He said China was ready to work with Zambian friends to implement the enhancement of political mutual trust and keep the momentum of the high level visits and to deepen the economic and trade cooperation between two countries.

He assured the Zambia government that the projects being undertaken by his country in Zambia would be completed on time.

Some of the ongoing projects being undertaken by Chinese government are the incomplete part of the government complex in Kamwala area in Lusaka, the construction of an ultra modern stadium in Ndola and some hospitals and schools.

Mr. Dai said it was important to complete these projects adding that they would greatly benefit the people of Zambia .

And Vice President, George Kunda, has appealed to the Chinese government to continue encouraging investment from that country to Zambia.

Mr. Kunda said China has shown great commitment to assist African countries and Zambia in particular to develop their economies.

He said President Rupiah Banda’s state visit to that country early this year was very beneficial to Zambia because it resulted in the signing of various agreements and provisions of financial assistance to Zambia .

He said Chinese investment in Zambia stands at US$700 million.

Mr. Kunda thanked China for the investment in many areas of the economy.

And the two countries have signed four agreements on economic and technical cooperation and a framework agreement on the provision of a concession loan by China to Zambia.

The other two are an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with regard to taxes on income and the agreement on establishment of a Confucius Institute of China at the University of Zambia.

Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, signed three agreements on behalf of the Zambian government while China’s Deputy Minister of Commerce, Fu Zi Ying, signed the first two agreements on behalf of his country.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Li Qiangmin, signed the other two agreements for his country while University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Simukanga, signed the Confucius Institute agreement.

Mr. Dai and Mr. Kunda witnessed the signing of the agreements, which were done at State House.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dai paid a courtesy call on President Rupiah Banda at State House this morning and held closed door talks with him

ZANIS

7 COMMENTS

  1. Zambia shouldnt take pride in recieving all the time, look at the gift of k2.7billion what does that mean. if Kapoko can go free after stealing k27billion just imagine; there is more more money in the govt being missused, what a shame on our leaders

  2. That total rubish honestly how do you CONSTRUCT a mobile hospital? And why mobile hospitals, is that what the country needs. How long will those hospital stay

  3. This mobile hospitals business is still going on? I thought it had died with Mwanawasa.

    But the more regrettable thing is that we are begging yet again. We don’t need this.

  4. This is really saddening. Zambia has got highly qualified Doctors and administrators. Why do we believe that these TUTEMBA so-called hospitals will move the Country forward? My heart bleeds for the motherland.

  5. Once a begger always a begger! I cant believe that our beloved country can go to the extent of borrowing amounts like K2.4 billion from outside the country! Are you telling me that that small amount of money couldnt be sourced within the borders of our country? This is really embarrassing, am sure all those ministers and MPs could have managed to contribute K10 million each and made up for the K2.4 billion that they need.
    Oh let me guess, they couldnt source that money within the country because they didnt want to use their own knowing very well that they will simply steal that money and make themselves rich!

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