By H.E. Mr. DU Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia

On August 18, 2022, Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister,Aïssata Tall Sall, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal, the African Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and other African representatives participated in the Coordinators' Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC. The Meeting is committed to accelerating the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, strengthening solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, constantly boosting the well-established credentials of FOCAC. The Meeting has three highlights for Zambia.

First, the projects related to Zambia mentioned by the Meeting shows that China firmly promotes the China-Zambia relations at the level of China-Africa cooperation. The 750 MW Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro Power Station noted by the Meeting, built by a Chinese company, takes up 22% of Zambia’s total electricity generation, turning Zambia into a net electricity exporter. The Meeting says that China welcomes and supports the decision of Zambia and Tanzania to reactivate the TAZARA. The Chinese side will continue to follow the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and pursuing the greater good and shared interests, put forth by President Xi Jinping, help to reactivate the TAZARA step by step under commercial principles. This will build a new economic belt near the TAZARA, and inject new impetus into Zambia’s economy. The Meeting announces issuing visas to Zambian students and more measures will be taken to make international travel easier.

Second, China supports the AU in joining the G20. As a brother who also suffered a lot from colonialism. China firmly supports Africa to redress the historical injustice,firmly support African countries to pursue their own development paths and seek strength through unity. China insists that we should expand Africa’s influence in the world, strive to increase more international representation & say for the 1.3 billion African people,and mobilize more resources in favor of Africa. 

Third, the international community should increase input to Africa. Africa is the continent with richest unexploited resources and highest ratio of youths,also the most energetic continent. All stakeholders should increase support to Africa, injecting investment and technology, promoting Africa’s industrialization, increasing employment, providing education,and eliminating poverty. China and Africa should stay together in solidarity, removing disruption and enhancing cooperation, so as to fully implement the “Nine Programs” under the FOCAC and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. This will bring tangible benefits to the African people and more high-quality African products to the Chinese Market and the Chinese people, achieving mutual benefits, win-win outcomes and common development.