A senior Zambian government official on Tuesday commended China for partnering with Africa on establishing the Africa Continental Integrated High Speed Train initiative.
Susan Sikaneta, who is Zambia's Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), said the initiative will provide Africa's transport network with a modern high-speed railway that would trigger massive development.
In a statement released by the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia after the launch of a book entitled "A Monument to China-Africa Friendship: A firsthand account of the building of TAZARA", the Zambian envoy said African countries will continue collaborating with China on the planned creation of continental high-speed train initiative.
The creation of the continent high-speed train initiative is one of the plans for the continent under the AU Agenda 2063.
Speaking during the same occasion, Director-General Policy Planning Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Yajun said China was committed to investing in Africa.
He said China was determined to revamp the TAZARA railways because it was symbolic to China-Africa friendship.
The TAZARA railway line is a joint project between the Tanzanian and Zambian governments built in the 1970s with the technical and financial support from China.
The 1,860 kilometer railway line runs from the Zambian town of Kapiri Mposhi to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
