Zambian president meets Chinese VP

Zambian President Michael Sata on Thursday met with visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao in Lusaka to discuss bilateral relations.

Noting that Li's visit came at an opportune time, Sata touted the friendly and brotherly relationship between Zambia and China, saying that Zambia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and open businesses in Zambia.

The Zambian president called for enhancing the mutual beneficial cooperation between the two countries so as to continuously push forward bilateral friendly relations.

Li said 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia.

For the past 50 years, the two countries have enjoyed a traditional friendship that has withstood the test of the changes in international relations and in respective national conditions, Li said.

China has always treated Zambia as a good brother, a good friend and a good partner and is willing to work together with Zambia to lift bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

During his visit to Zambia, Li also met with his Zambian counterpart Guy Scott, had a working meeting with Wynter Kabimba, secretary-general of Zambia's governing party, the Patriotic Front, and paid a courtesy call on former President Kenneth Kaunda.