Hon. Christopher Yaluma, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia,

Mr. Joe Kapembwa，Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Child Development,

Mr. Herman Kasekende, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia,

Athletes from different countries,

Representatives from the Chinese communities,

Friends from the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. It is my great pleasure to attend today’s Relay Event. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, please allow me to express our sincere gratitude as well as appreciation to Standard Chartered Bank for initiating the Belt and Road Relay across the world, and wish all athletes from different countries a success.

During the Beijing Summit of FOCAC last September, the two heads of state of China and Zambia witnessed the signing of the MOU on Cooperation within the Framework of Belt and Road Initiative. Zambia officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative. The joint efforts of our two countries under the Belt and Road framework will surely offer more diversified resources and opportunities for the Zambia financial market.

We are happy that Standard Chartered Bank has seized this rare opportunity to continuously improve financial services, expand service products, and actively explore more efficient cooperation ways for its customers, providing strong financial support for investors in countries along the Belt and Road.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Standard Chartered Bank(Zambia) for your contributions to the economic cooperation between China and Zambia.

This year marks the 55th Anniversary of the establishment of China-Zambia diplomatic relations, and also the first China-Zambia Cultural Year. The governments of the two countries will jointly launch the Cultural Year in Beijing at the end of this month. At this special occasion, I would like to reiterate that China is willing to work with Zambia to make full utilization of the advantages of traditional friendship, economic complementarity and people-to-people mutual understanding, and constantly enhance new vista for win-win cooperation and common development for the two countries. It is also our hope that more beneficial cultural and sports events will be held in Zambia this year, and more Chinese and Zambian people will join us.

Finally, may I wish the Belt and Road Relay hosted by Standard Chartered Bank a great success.