On March 30, 2015, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Edgar Lungu of Zambia at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state exchanged in-depth views on China-Zambia relations, African situation, China-Africa cooperation and others, and agreed that bilateral friendship is a choice of common destiny of both sides, and that we should cherish bilateral traditional friendship, firmly grasp the big picture of bilateral friendship, deepen bilateral practical cooperation in all fields and better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping pointed out that President Edgar Lungu chose China as the destination of his first trans-regional visit after assuming the office, which fully embodies his high attention to developing bilateral relations, which I appreciate. Bilateral traditional friendship, which was jointly established and nurtured by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, is the common wealth highly cherished by both sides. We together celebrated the 50th anniversary of the independence of Zambia as well as that of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relationship last year. Over the half century, bilateral relationship has grown even firmer as time goes by and won the hearts of the people. China will work with Zambia to make the bilateral partnership an example featuring equity, mutual trust, and win-win cooperation.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Zambia should keep the sound momentum of high-level exchanges, make the best of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, enhance exchange of experience in governance and administration of state affairs and continue understanding and supporting each other on issues regarding their core interests and major concerns. We should give full play to the incubating role of bilateral economic and trade cooperation including the China Investment and Trade Promotion Center, the Agricultural Demonstration Center and the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Area that have been established by China in Zambia, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction, mining, agriculture, processing and manufacturing, investment and trade. China encourages and supports more Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in Zambia, and hopes Zambia provide more favorable conditions for them. China is willing to join efforts with Zambia and Tanzania to build Tanzania-Zambia railway into a road of development and prosperity. Both parties should expand exchanges in education, culture, sports, and news media and advance communication between the youth. China stands ready to, together with Zambia, deepen multilateral coordination, strengthen coordination and cooperation in major international and regional affairs and safeguard the common rights and interests of developing countries thus to make new contributions to global peace and development.

Xi Jinping pointed out that at present, the situation in Africa is good on the whole, meanwhile, African peace and development are facing all kinds of internal and external challenges. China will work with Africa to make new contributions to realizing long-lasting peace and self-sustained development in the continent. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the 6th FOCAC ministerial meeting will be held in South Africa. China will join efforts with FOCAC members including Zambia to make the meeting a grand event for promoting unity and win-win cooperation between China and Africa.

Edgar Lungu expressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relationship between Zambia and China over the half century ago, both countries and peoples have enjoyed sincere friendship with bilateral relations becoming increasingly mature, and China has offered sincere and valuable support for Zambia’s independence as well as its economic and social development. Zambia will go all out to consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, boost bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, agriculture, infrastructure and electric power, vigorously expand bilateral exchanges in culture, education, health care, youth, tourism and other fields, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, in order to build bilateral relationship an all-weather friendly partnership sharing weal and woe.

Edgar Lungu said that China is a sincere friend of the African people and good partner of African development. Both sides have always treated each other as equals regardless of their size, wealth and strength. China has offered important assistance to Africa for its development as well as its fight against various crises including epidemics, wining the trust of the African people. Africa-China cooperation is very important to Africa and the mankind at large. It is hoped that Zambia and China could elevate cooperation level within the framework of the FOCAC. Africa supports an open economic policy and devotes itself to regional integration. It is hoped that China could extend its regional cooperation network to Africa thus to help it achieve development and prosperity.

Following the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of cooperative documents covering economy, technique, infrastructure construction, telecommunications and so on.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People for Edgar Lungu. Mme. Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, Wang Huning, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, Li Zhanshu, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Ji Bingxuan, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, State Councilor Yang Jiehi, Chen Xiaoguang, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and others were present.

On the afternoon, Edgar Lungu went to the Tiananmen Square and laid a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes.