Yauming
ZAMBIA and China must work together to improve infrastructure and other facilities in the tourism sector to attract more Chinese tourists, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Yauming has said.
Mr Yauming said there was need for the two countries, which had a long history of relationship, work together to improve infrastructure and other facilities so that more tourists from China could visit Zambia.
He was speaking in Livingstone at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport yesterday upon his arrival in Zambia’s Tourist Capital alongside China’s Vice Minister of Cultural Ding Wei among other delegates.
The delegates were expected to attend the Chinese Cultural and Arts Performances at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone in the night.
“Zambia has great potential for tourism. Develop that potential and lets work together to improve infrastructure and other facilities to attract more tourists from China.
“More than 120 million Chinese tourists travel annually across the globe and some can be attracted to come to Zambia,” he said.
And Mr Wei said he was happy to visit the famous Livingstone which was
Zambia’s Tourist Capital.
“If you haven’t visited Livingstone, you haven’t visited Zambia and this is the reason why we have brought our festival here in Livingstone.
“China and Zambia have a very good relationship for more than half a century and the relationship is vital for the two countries. Today we will showcase Chinese culture as we celebrate together and we need more understanding of the local people,” he said.
Mr Wei welcomed Zambian artists and the media to visit China so that they learn the Chinese culture.
And speaking earlier, Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje said culture was one of the social issues which bring people together.
Mr Munanje said Zambia and China shared a long standing relationship and therefore there was need to ensure that the relationship continue to grow.
“We want to learn your culture and it is our hope that you will also learn our culture. We want you to see and explore what we have in Livingstone so that more Chinese tourists will come to Livingstone and Zambia in particular.
“During your stay, we hope you will learn more from our vast tourist attractions in Livingstone so that you share the knowledge with the people of China,” Mr Munsanje said.
Tell that to the opposition who are against infrastructure development………..they say we can’t eat roads and buildings when without them it is difficult to attract a lot of tourists.
So how does spending half billion dollars on CB urban roads?
@ Ba Sebenza,
Zambia was not formed today, we all know that infrastructure is key, what people are saying is have a proper plan / strategy to these things. Don’t misuse the words used, because Zambia has already infrastructure in place to attract tourists today.
Planning and having a vision is key for every success. Edger Lungu himself declared that he has no vision hence there economical issues at hand.
We need a proper governed Zambia with balanced development. It’s true people can not eat roads alone??? current delivery of services is to attract votes?? we know them. let elections pass we will be back to square Zero. IT IS CLEAR LUNGU SHOULD GO. HE IS NOT A LEADER BUT A GRADE 12 FAILURE.
Thats a government function not a PF function!! what a PF chitenges doing there????
Ndobo PF is government! Simple as that.
@Microscope: Have you seem Obama, on state events with Diplomats using Democratic Party Materials,? come on let not behave as if we are not educated. Events with any diplomatic call Should be non Partisan: PF is the Ruling Party NO THE GOVERNMENT. ZAMBIAN CITIZENS ARE GOVERNMENT. Guess you should learn to draw lines between parties, and Government, then Zambia will move forward.
But the govt says there is unprecedented infrastructure in Zambia! This guy is right, there’s no infrastructure to talk about.
It is true. Tourists are not attracted by bad roads. They want to use good roads. THEN REVENUE WILL FLOW IN! Keep it up PF! Seems common sense is not so common after all, since some so-called economists lack it.
Of course, tourist from PRC do come specifically to Africa to visit infrastructure!!!
Mr. Yang Yauming, how many tourists have visited South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia?
By the way, how many Chinese Airlines fly to Africa to bring tourists?
Do the Chinese really need any infrastructure for them to come as tourists, and convert to roasted maize sellers, or chicken sellers?
does L.T have any proof readers?
What tourists. ..they will just come and poach all the elephants!!
Hasn’t your boss HH cited tourism as a jewel with the potential to earn wealth for this country if managed properly? Just how do you hope to achieve this with bad unsightly roads that will scare away tourists. PF is laying the road infrastructure for this to happen. Just how blind can we be to the obvious? Let’s be serious and comment objectively. And by the way, tourists are not only from China.
@ Microscope
Please mention ONE PRC based international hotel operator which has invested outside mainland China?
Irrelevant question 0690.
LT: to attrack Chinese
Attack or attract?
I am not an economist. Maybe this is why I do not understand people who say they cannot eat roads. For years maize was left to rot in Miyombe as it could not be collected because of bad roads. If this maize is collected does this not have an impact on the economy? Chama in Eastern Province is now connected to Chinsali and traders in Chama are able to cycle (you know how people in Eastern Province love bicycles) to Chinsali to buy commodities. Does this not have an impact on their livelihoods? Mbala and Isoka are now connected. Previously one had to pass through Mpika to get to Isoka. Do the savings on time and transport costs have an impact on the economy? Do you want free mealie meal coupons for you to taste development?
Good observation Senior Engineer. I need critics to imagine a body without a skeletal system. There will simply be no locomotion and of course no productivity. The same goes for our economy…no infrastructure no “locomotion” and the wheels of our economy will slow down or just grind to a halt.
A good road network is critical in the pursuit of development for any country for that matter. However, we need to manage how much we spend on them and also ensure we have good designs and that contractors adhere to the designs.
Much as I support infrastructure development I am not happy with the cost per km of roads. Zanis showed the cost of a new beautiful District hospital and a simple bridge and the bridge was more expensive! Hon Mutati touched on the high road costs in the MMD era. Eng. Chiwala attributed this due to the importation of tar from S.A. Why can’t the tar be produced locally especially if it is a by product of oil refinement unless there are vested interests. Cement is used a lot in road construction. If it was not for the intervention of Dangote the price of cement would have been over K100 per bag. Thank RB for it. “Nga baisa isula ba Dangote kulya market ikaba kwisa? Because Dangote is going to be producing more than 1.5 million tonnes. Other person: Umm! Because Dangote will be bigger…
Agreed we need infrastructure to support:agriculture,tourism and manufacturing but this infrastructure must be cost effective so that we avoid overburdening the economy with inflated infrastructure costs which would still make Zambia unattractive for investment in these sectors!Infrastructure is also not just roads but everything that we have seen the PF has been trying to do,hospitals,schools, electricity generation power plants,airports and aerodromes etc..but we need to have priorities so that infrastructure development feeds into development of agriculture,tourism and manufacturing. What will US$400m of borrowed money bring back when invested on roads in residential areas on the Copperbelt when the same amount of money invested in thermal or hydro power generation could bring us 300…