Vice President Inonge Wina has assured Chinese nationals that their investment in Zambia is secure and safe.
Mrs Wina urged the Chinese investors not to worry as Zambia has a stable political environment suitable for investment and trade.
The Vice president said this in Lusaka today when she met a delegation from the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Company Limited (CNMC).
Mrs Wina who was flanked by Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said Zambia and China have for a long period of time continued to enjoy cordial economic and trade relations which has continued to grow each day.
Mrs Wina however, praised China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Company Limited for its continued investment in the country’s mining sector for the past 13 years.
She said the continued investment of the company in the mining sector is a symbol of the China-Zambia trade and economic partnership.
She further said the company’s continued investment in the country’s mining sector has created many job opportunities for the Zambian people.
And Mrs Wina has however urged the Chinese investors in the country to adhere to the country’s labour laws and continue to employ more Zambians.
Mrs Wina further implored all investors in the mining sector to be aware of the environmental protection strategies and ensure that they critically emphasise on disaster risk management in their operations.
And China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Company Limited (CNMC) Chief Executive Officer Kelli Zhang said despite the challenges that has affected the mining operation in the country his company is ready to double its investment.
Mr Zhang said his company has over the past 13 year operation in the country invested a total of $2.6 billion with 15,000 employment opportunities for the Zambian people.
He also said his company has taken keen interest in understanding various government mining policies and is steadily positioning itself to the country economic stability.
Mr Zhang also assured Zambia that his company is ready to invest not only in mining but in also in other various national economic sectors.
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe has praised China for replicating its investment in the Chambishi Multi Facility Economic Zone.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said government is ready to attract more Chinese investment not only in mining but in other key economic sectors such as agriculture, tourism and health among others.
Work with the Chinese, do not let them take over.
There are many things we can learn from them.
But there are also things we should distance ourselves from, and I hope our leaders can triage competently.
But also deport the ones selling maize and tobamutwe at the markets.