Sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Ltd., Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia and Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and supported by China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce (CAJCC) the China-Zambia Investment Promotion Seminar was solemnly opened on February 26th, 2010. Over 300 Chinese and Zambian Government Delegates and entrepreneurs attended the seminar and exchanged ideas and information on investment and cooperation.
Zambia is one of the earliest African countries which had established diplomatic relations with China. Zambian and Chinese people have enjoyed deep friendship back to decades ago. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China and Zambia has cooperated together to carry out the eight measures announced by President Hu Jintao. In the past few years the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has achieved robust development from which many Chinese and Zambian enterprises has benefited. On the opening ceremony, the visiting President of the Republic of Zambia Mr. Banda delivered a warm speech. Upon the invitation of President Hu Jintao, President Banda is paying a state visit to China from February 24th to March 4th. In the meeting on February 25th in the Great Hall of People, President Banda and President Hu witnessed the signing of the MOU on the construction of Lusaka Sub-zone of ZCCZ. President Banda recalled the long-term friendship between China and Zambia and conveyed his gratitude to Chinese people for their contribution to the economic and social development of Zambia. He said that CNMC and ZCCZ are very significant to the development of Sino-Zambia friendship. He and his government will fully support CNMC’s investments and projects in Zambia and he is confident of the future of ZCCZ.
The Vice Chairman of CCPIT Mr. Yu Ping delivered a speech at the beginning of the ceremony and sang high praise for the achievements of CNMC. The minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia, Minister of Finance and National Planning of Zambia and Director General of Zambia Development Agency made presentations on investment climate in Zambia. Mr. Luo Tao, the President of CNMC conveyed his thanks to President Banda and Zambian Government for their support and assistance to CNMC’s business in Zambia and expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and CCPIT for their kind attention to CNMC. He said that since the establishment of FOCAC 10 years ago, especially after the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Zambia has developed rapidly. CNMC’s investment in Zambia has grown dramatically. CNMC will follow the instruction given by President Hu Jintao: China and Zambia cooperate for common development and live up to the expectation from the state leaders to continue its career in Zambia and make more contribution to Zambian people.
The presentation made by ZCCZ and Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia all showed great pictures of Zambia. Chinese entrepreneurs were all deeply attracted and many of them showed their intent of investment. The seminar ended with the signing of MOU of cooperation between CNMC, ZDA and CAJCC.
President Banda also looked around CNMC headquarter accompanied by Mr. Luo Tao, the President of CNMC and Mr. Zhang Keli, the First Vice-President of CNMC before the seminar. Impressed by the pictures of projects in Zambia constructed and invested by CNMC, President Banda wrote an inscription to inspire CNMC staffs: CNMC is the partner in development in Zambia. We want to see more investment from China to Zambia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Mine and Mineral Development, Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Ambassador of Zambia to China, Ambassador of China to Zambia also attended the seminar. The seminar was reported by important media from both China and Zambia including CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, and Zambia National Broadcast Corporation etc.