Chinese President Xi and Zambian President Hichilema meets in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday hosted Hakainde Hichilema, his counterpart from the Southern African country of Zambia, with the two leaders agreeing to upgrade bilateral ties between the two states.
A joint communique issued by the Zambian and Chinese governments said the talks in Beijing were held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and the two leaders had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties, Chinese-African relations, and international and regional issues of mutual interest.
“The meeting reached extensive and important consensus, with the two leaders agreeing to upgrade the bilateral ties between the two states for comprehensive, strategic and cooperative partnership,” it said.
Hichilema has been in China on a weeklong state visit where he also met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress of China.
During the visit, set to end on Saturday, Hichilema has visited Shenzhen, Jiangxi and Fujian, where he inspected projects in the motor and tech industries.
Several memoranda of understanding were also signed between the two countries, including an agreement within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the 21st century maritime silk road initiative signed in 2018.
The communique said the Chinese government is ready to support upgrading and renovating the Tanzania Zambia Railway and Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles, in line with market and commercial principles.
It added that the two sides agreed that Hichilema’s visit was a complete success, of great significance to the development of Chinese-Zambian relations and the China-Africa community with a shared future.
