Following his visit to Russia, where he attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Zambia, November 19-20.
Arriving in the capital Lusaka, Li said that Zambia is the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the two countries share a profound tradition of friendship. Over the years, despite changes in the international landscape, China and Zambia have consistently respected, trusted and supported each other, jointly forging the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway spirit.
He added that China stands ready to work with Zambia to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and advance together on the path of modernisation.
Faced with a world of intertwined changes and chaos, China is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with Zambia, stand united with the broad ranks of Global South countries, safeguard the international order as well as fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Li Qiang held talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on the day after his arrival. He first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hichilema and said that China and Zambia are good brothers, good friends and good partners. Last year, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and President Xi met with President Hichilema during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), drawing a new blueprint for the deepening and development of bilateral relations.
China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Zambia in areas related to people’s livelihood, such as healthcare, agriculture and human resources development, so as to enhance the two peoples’ sense of gain from bilateral cooperation, Li said, adding that the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a shared aspiration of the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia, and the project is a landmark of high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.
At present, Li noted, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, posing serious challenges to the international system and global economy. China and Zambia should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and work with the broad ranks of Global South countries to safeguard the international trade order, uphold fairness and justice, and defend their joint benefits.
President Hichilema noted that the time-honoured and ever-strengthening friendship between Zambia and China was forged by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, adding that he and President Xi have reached important consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
He said Zambia is willing to work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship, intensify high-level exchanges, expand cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, follow up on the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, enhance economic development along the railway, and promote the building of a Zambia-China community with a shared future.
The same day Premier Li attended and spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway revitalisation project, alongside President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi.
Li said that China is willing to work with Zambia and Tanzania to advance the development of a prosperity belt along the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and jointly foster a new hub of economic growth. In September 2024, President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Hichilema jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the revitalisation project of the railway in Beijing. The railway serves as a bond that binds the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia closely together, he said, hailing the TAZARA spirit as precious legacy forged through dedication and hard work – one that should be cherished and safeguarded.
Noting that the three governments will provide necessary support for the railway’s revitalisation, Li urged the three sides to adhere to high-quality and high-standard construction, build the project into a high-quality, efficient, safe and reliable landmark project, and set an example for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China will also help implement more “small and beautiful” projects in areas such as healthcare, poverty alleviation and agricultural development along the line to better improve people’s livelihoods.
For their part, Hichilema and Nchimbi said that the railway stands as a monument to the friendship forged by the older generations of leaders of the three countries, and as a symbol of their peoples’ pursuit of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual support.
Revitalising the railway embodies the shared future of the three nations and their joint efforts to build a better tomorrow, they said, adding that the railway will become a vivid example of how Chinese and African people carry forward their friendship and work together for revitalisation.
The TAZARA railway was built by China between 1970-75. By far China’s largest overseas project at the time, it enabled land-locked Zambia to get its copper exports to port without going through countries then under white racist and colonial rule. It remains testimony to the profound friendship between Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere.
Following his visit to Zambia, Li Qiang left for South Africa, to attend the 20th G20 Summit, the first to be held in Africa.
The following articles from the Xinhua News Agency were originally published on the website of China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO).
Chinese premier arrives in Zambia for official visit
November 20 (SCIO) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Zambia’s capital of Lusaka on Wednesday for an official visit to the African country.
Li said that Zambia is the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the two countries share a profound tradition of friendship.
Over the years, despite changes in the international landscape, China and Zambia have consistently respected, trusted and supported each other, jointly forging the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway spirit, he said.
Li noted that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, the two countries have steadily deepened their political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in various sectors, setting a model of solidarity and collaboration among developing nations.
During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September last year, the two heads of state held a meeting, which pointed the direction for further deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Zambia, said Li.
Li said that China stands ready to work with Zambia to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples, and advance together on the path of modernization.
Faced with a world of intertwined changes and chaos, China is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with Zambia, stand united with the broad ranks of Global South countries, safeguard the international order as well as fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Li’s visit followed his attendance at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow, Russia.
China ready to explore industrial cooperation potential with Zambia, says Chinese premier
November 21 (SCIO) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Zambia, taking the implementation of China’s zero-tariff treatment for Zambia as an opportunity, to expand bilateral trade and tap cooperation potential in industrial sectors such as mining, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence.
Li, who landed in Zambia’s capital of Lusaka on Wednesday for an official visit to the African country, made the remarks during talks with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The Chinese premier first conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hichilema. Li said that China and Zambia are good brothers, good friends and good partners.
Last year, the two countries celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and President Xi met with President Hichilema during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), drawing a new blueprint for the deepening and development of bilateral relations, Li said.
The premier said China is ready to work with Zambia to further consolidate mutual political trust, firmly support each other regarding their respective core interests and major concerns, continuously enrich the substance of the China-Zambia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, join hands to advance modernization, and build an even closer China-Zambia community with a shared future so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.
China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Zambia in areas related to people’s livelihood, such as healthcare, agriculture and human resources development, so as to enhance the two peoples’ sense of gain from bilateral cooperation, Li said.
He noted that the two countries should take the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to strengthen friendly interactions at all levels, deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism and other fields, thereby solidifying the social foundation for bilateral cooperation.
China is also ready to work with Zambia to step up cooperation in judicial, police, law-enforcement and other areas, in order to provide stronger security assurance for bilateral cooperation, Li said.
The revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a shared aspiration of the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia, he said, adding that the project is a landmark of high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.
The three countries should strengthen policy coordination, advance follow-up comprehensive development, and promote better development for the countries and regions along the railway, Li said.
At present, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, posing serious challenges to the international system and global economy, Li noted, calling on China and Zambia to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and work with the broad ranks of Global South countries to safeguard the international trade order, uphold fairness and justice, and defend their joint benefits.
Hichilema, for his part, kindly requested Li to convey his cordial greetings and best wishes to Xi, and extended warm congratulations on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Noting that the time-honored and ever-strengthening friendship between Zambia and China was forged by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, Hichilema said he and President Xi have reached important consensus on deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Zambia firmly adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports the just cause of the Chinese people in opposing “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and striving for national reunification, stressed Hichilema.
He said Zambia is willing to work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship, intensify high-level exchanges, expand cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, follow up on the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, enhance the economic development efficiency along the railway, and promote the building of a Zambia-China community with a shared future.
Hichilema said Zambia is ready to continue deepening cooperation with China within the framework of the FOCAC, and actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.
Zambia highly appreciates the four major global initiatives proposed by Xi and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China and jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, he added.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in fields including the Belt and Road cooperation, personnel exchanges, green minerals and journalism.
Chinese premier says willing to work with Zambia, Tanzania to build new economic hub
November 21 (SCIO) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China is willing to work with Zambia and Tanzania to advance the development of a prosperity belt along the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and jointly foster a new hub of economic growth.
He made the remarks here in Zambia’s capital of Lusaka while attending the ground-breaking ceremony of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway revitalization project with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi.
Li said that in September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Hichilema jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the revitalization project of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in Beijing.
Over the past year, relevant departments and enterprises of the three countries have worked in unity and taken concrete steps to make important progress, paving the way for the formal commencement of the project, Li noted.
The railway serves as a bond that binds the peoples of China, Tanzania and Zambia closely together, he said, hailing the TAZARA spirit as precious legacy forged through dedication and hard work — one that should be cherished and safeguarded.
Today, China-Africa cooperation has embarked on a new journey toward the shared dream of modernization, Li said, describing the railway as a landmark project of China-Africa cooperation.
China stands ready to work with Zambia and Tanzania to ensure that this railway, brimming with hope, shines with renewed splendor in the new era, and injects greater vitality into the development of Tanzania and Zambia, and even the entire Africa, he said.
Noting that the three governments will provide necessary support for the railway’s revitalization, Li urged the three sides to adhere to high-quality and high-standard construction, build the project into a high-quality, efficient, safe and reliable landmark project, and set an example for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
China will also help implement more “small and beautiful” projects in areas such as healthcare, poverty alleviation and agricultural development along the line to better improve people’s livelihoods, he added.
He called on the three countries to take the railway’s revitalization as an opportunity to advance “hard connectivity” of infrastructure such as railways, highways and ports, and strengthen “soft connectivity” in fields including customs, commodity inspection and taxation.
Li said China is willing to continuously enhance trade and investment facilitation with Zambia and Tanzania, promote the integration and alignment of markets and industries among the three countries, as well as between China and Africa, to pool greater synergy for development.
Looking ahead, China-Africa cooperation enjoys broad prospects, Li noted. China is ready to work with Zambia, Tanzania and other African countries to further carry forward the TAZARA spirit, implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and deepen and solidify the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, the premier said.
For their part, Hichilema and Nchimbi said that the railway stands as a monument to the friendship forged by the older generations of leaders of the three countries, and as a symbol of their peoples’ pursuit of independence, self-reliance, solidarity and mutual support.
Revitalizing the railway embodies the shared future of the three nations and their joint efforts to build a better tomorrow, they said, adding that the railway will become a vivid example of how Chinese and African people carry forward their friendship and work together for revitalization.
Zambia and Tanzania stand ready to work closely with China to actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, make the revitalization project a flagship for jointly advancing modernization, promote regional connectivity, and drive industrial upgrading, green transition and economic development in countries along the line, so as to improve people’s well-being and write a new chapter in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Li held friendly exchanges with Nchimbi during the event.
The governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia issued a joint statement on jointly building the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt.
