On 22 March 2024, Chargé d'affaires Wang Sheng met with Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism of Zambia.

Mr. Wang said that 2024 is a big year for China-Zambia relations, and the Chinese side is actively implementing the important consensus between the two heads of state of holding the China-Zambia Year of Culture and Tourism on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. China has been meticulously preparing a series of cultural and tourism activities, so as to give a rich connotation to the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between the two countries. China will host the opening ceremony of the Year of Culture and Tourism in Beijing in late April, and officially invite Hon. Rodney Sikumba, the Minister of Tourism, to attend the opening ceremony in China to promote Zambia's rich cultural and tourism resources. China will also send cultural and tourism groups to visit Zambia to conduct familiarization trips in the coming year.

Mr. Wang emphasized that the all-weather friendship between China and Zambia has a long history, and we should take the Year of Culture and Tourism as an opportunity to continue promoting people-to-people exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding. Chinese enterprises and communities in Zambia are actively participating in China-Zambia cultural and tourism cooperation. The Chinese side will organize a cultural group of more than 80 people to participate in the Livingstone International Cultural Festival. To make the Year of Cultural and Tourism a success, Chinese enterprises will also actively assist Zambia’s cultural and artistic groups to visit and perform in China.

Mr. Muhanga expressed deep appreciation to the Chinese side for informing the relevant arrangements for cooperation on the Year of Cultural and Tourism, as well as Chinese enterprises and communities’ efforts in promoting people-to-people exchanges and cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries. Zambia is looking forward to deepening cooperation with China to promote the Zambia-China all-weather friendship lasting for decades and achieve further economic and social development through the cultural and tourism cooperation.