Chinese Foreign Minister says ready to deepen cooperation with Zambia

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang says China is ready to work with Zambia, an all-weather friend, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

Qin said China is ready to strengthen practical cooperation with Zambia in various fields under the high-quality cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative and within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

He added that China welcomes more high-quality Zambian goods to enter the Chinese market.

Talking via phone with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kasongo Kakubo, Qin recalled the telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in May last year, which has charted the course for the development of bilateral relations.

“China is willing to work with Zambia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen mutual support, and promote the stable and long-term development of bilateral relations,” Qin said.

For his part, Mr. Kakubo said Zambia and China enjoy profound traditional friendship.

“We discussed among other things, Zambia-China relations, economic and development cooperation and strengthening already well established bilateral relations. We went further to reassure one another of the commitment of our Heads of State to forge forward in increasing close cooperative ties,” Mr Kakubo wrote on his Facebook page.

Mr Kakubo said the meeting also expansively discussed the Zambia’s debt as he made another call for a conclusion to the negotiations.

He thanked China for its strong support for Zambia’s national construction and development over the years and hopes to continue to deepen bilateral practical cooperation in various fields and further develop the all-weather friendship between the two countries.

Mr. Kakubo added that Zambia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is ready to strengthen mutual support with China on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.