LUSAKA - President Hakainde Hichilema has hosted the Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Mme Xian Hui, who attended his inauguration as Special Envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Writing after the meeting at Community House, President Hichilema said Zambia and China shared a long-standing friendship forged by the two countries' founding leaders, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Chairman Mao Zedong.
President Hichilema said he conveyed Zambia's gratitude to President Xi for sending a Special Envoy to the inauguration.
He said the longstanding friendship between Zambia and China was continuing to deliver tangible economic benefits through enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
President Hichilema said Zambia's exports to China had doubled over the past five years to a record US$4.2 billion.
With the renewed mandate, he said the Government had reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate work on the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) corridor.
President Hichilema said the Government was committed to facilitating trade and growing businesses that operate along the strategic railway corridor.
He added that foreign trade diplomacy remained central to the Grow Zambia Agenda.