This morning, we joined fellow Heads of State and government officials in Beijing, China, for the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Africa and China share a long history of cooperation and solidarity, dating back to pre-independence days. During some of our continent’s most challenging times, China extended a helping hand to Africa when it was neither popular nor expected.
For Zambia, our Founding President, Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda, together with President Dr. Mwalimu Nyerere of the United Republic of Tanzania, forged a historic partnership with China. This collaboration set a benchmark and inspired the entire continent.
The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation seeks to build on this historical relationship by creating a win-win, strategic, and equal partnership that will benefit both regions. The resilience and determination of the Chinese people are qualities we admire and aspire to emulate with hard work and dedication.
We extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese people for offering Africa this initiative and platform to exchange ideas on how to unlock the full potential of our two regions.
Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia đŸ‡¿đŸ‡²
