Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Zambian counterpart Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in Lusaka on Saturday to discuss ways of enhancing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

 

 

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in Lusaka, capital of Zambia on February 3, 2007.

 

Hours after his arrival, President Hu and his Zambian counterpart Mwanawasa started their talks on furthering bilateral relations.

 

The two countries are expected to sign a series of cooperative documents following their talks.

 

During his visit, President Hu will also meet with former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and attend the inauguration ceremony of a China-Zambia economic cooperation zone.

 

Since China and Zambia established diplomatic relations in 1964,the two countries have maintained "all-weather friendship" as described by Kaunda.

 

The Tanzara Railway built with the assistance of China is the symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa.

 

In recent years, China and Zambia have expanded their cooperation into areas of agriculture, textile and education.

 

The Chinese president flew into Lusaka from Khartoum after his visit to Sudan.

 

President Hu's eight-nation African tour has already brought him to Cameroon, Liberia and Sudan and will also take him to Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Seychelles.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2007)