First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Honourable Malungo A Chisangano, MP says China’s support to Zambia’s development continues to be essential, pointing to investments in infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals as well as in sectors including mining, agriculture and manufacturing. She said this support has greatly shaped Zambia’s progress.

Speaking when a Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation led by Mr. Wang Linhu, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of Legal Affairs of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency Han Jing, paid a courtesy call on her on Wednesday, 24th September 2025, at Parliament Buildings, Hon. Chisangano said bilateral relations between Zambia and China have been further strengthened through high-level engagements.

She said the visits by President Hakainde Hichilema to China in 2023 and 2024 gave momentum to expanding opportunities that continue to support Zambia’s development agenda.

 “Both leaders established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership that is creating new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries,” she said.

Hon. Chisangano said the parliamentary partnership between Zambia and China is important in promoting mutual understanding and advancing shared development goals. She added that this partnership requires intentional efforts to realise its full potential for both countries.

She also said Zambia is indebted to the People’s Republic of China for its continued support to the National Assembly of Zambia, pointing to the construction of the Media and Visitors’ Centre as well as the commitment of 400,000 Chinese Yuan towards building the Nelly Mutti crèche, dedicated to the nursing Members and staff of the National Assembly.

In addition, she thanked the people of China for the warm hospitality extended to her staff during their recent visit for the Seminar on Public Policy Analysis and Local Governance for Zambia, saying that the constructive engagements and cultural exchanges they experienced strengthened the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wang Linhu said the CPC delegation’s visit aimed to implement the strategic consensus reached by President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jinping, as well as to build on the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

He said the visit was also an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Zambia and China, including exchanges between the National Assembly of Zambia and the Communist Party of China.

Mr Linhu said China is ready to work closely with Zambia to elevate their relationship to a higher level and strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy, water resources development and electricity and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Zambia. He noted that businesses from Hubei Province were already investing in mining, fertilizer production and construction materials and that many more companies were eager to expand into Zambia.

He added that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have yielded positive results in education, agriculture, health and technology. He said China had sent 25 medical teams to Zambia and currently hosts more than 1,400 Zambian students, demonstrating the depth of bilateral ties.

Mr. Linhu said Zambia and China, as developing countries, face similar challenges in a globalized world and should work together to safeguard international equity and justice to protect the interests of developing countries and contribute to a fairer global governance system. He said China is committed to strengthening cooperation with Zambia and Africa in order to promote industrialization and modernization on the continent.