China and Zambia on Monday inked the contract for the construction of a 40,000-capacity stadium donated by the Chinese government in Lusaka.

Head of the Chinese architecture delegation Zhang Zijun signed on behalf of his team and the Chinese government while Permanent Secretary of Zambian Works and Supply Ministry Bizwayo Nkunika signed on behalf of the Zambian government.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said the project is a real testimony of the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples, adding that Zambia is one of the biggest beneficiary countries enjoying Chinese donations.

Li reiterated his government's support to Zambia's development programs and urged more cooperation between China and Zambia.

"It's just one step of the long march," Li said, "we need more understandings."

Zambian Sports Minister Gabriel Namulambe, who also attended the signing ceremony, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, saying the signing is the fruit of the enduring friendship shared by the Chinese and Zambian government and the two peoples.

Namulambe applauded the highly-efficient work of the Chinese engineering team during its three-week stay in Zambia and said the Zambian government would respond promptly to any concerns to be raised by Chinese experts in the execution of their duties.

The 13-member Chinese panel from the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design arrived in Zambia on August 31 for a site investigation of the China-funded stadium project which is hailed by Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa as one of the major outcomes during his visit to China in 2006.

The further-to-be stadium, designed to have modern sports and security facilities with 40,000 seats, is one of the largest project donated by the Chinese government to African countries since last year's China-Africa summit.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)