China-Zambia relationship is a model of China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation. The Chinese people extended firm support to the Zambian people in the days of their just struggle for independence. China-Zambia traditional friendship, forged by the older generation of leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and President Kawanda, has grown from strength to strength thanks to the commitment of successive generations of leaders and the support of the Chinese and Zambian peoples. In the 1970s, several dozen thousand Chinese workers worked hand in hand with their hardworking and courageous brothers and sisters in Zambia and Tanzania for six years to build a 1,860 kilometer-long railway across mountains and rivers in Africa. Tazara stands as a historic milestone of China's friendship with Zambia and Africa. The Zambian Government has all along adhered to the one China policy and supported China's reunification.
In recent years, China-Zambia relations have shown new vigor and vitality in the new historical stage. The two countries maintain regular exchange of high-level visits and enjoy growing political mutual trust. We work closely in international affairs to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. Our economic ties and trade are booming and making fruitful progress, evidenced by deepening cooperation in a wide range of areas such as agriculture, telecommunications, mining, education, public health, culture, tourism and human resources development. The Chambishi copper mine, the joint venture farms and the telecommunications cooperation project are good examples. China-Zambia cooperation has delivered real benefits to our peoples.
At the invitation of Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Zambia from 3 to 5 February. This will be the first visit paid by the head of state of China to Zambia. I am confident that this will be a historic visit of far-reaching significance, and it will write a new chapter in China-Zambia relations.
The friendly exchanges between China and Africa have a long history. In more than half a century since the inauguration of their diplomatic relations, China and Africa have, supporting each other and sharing weal and woe in their struggle for liberation and sovereignty, forged a profound friendship. The two sides have achieved remarkable progress in their respective pursuit of national and economic development through mutual assistance. I was posted in Africa for 10 years. As China's foreign minister, I always return to Africa as I make my first overseas visit in the new year, and each time I was greatly encouraged by Africa's new progress and deepening friendship and cooperation between China and Africa. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation successfully held in November 2006, China and Africa established a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange, bringing China-Africa friendship to a new level.
China is the biggest developing country, and Africa is home to the largest number of developing countries. Enhanced friendship and cooperation between China and Africa serves the fundamental interests of both sides and contributes to world peace and development. China will earnestly implement the decisions made during the Beijing Summit, including the eight measures for strengthening practical cooperation with Africa announced by President Hu Jintao. We will continue to advance the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership and work with African friends to usher in an even brighter future for China-Africa relationship.