By ANGELA CHISHIMBA
THE Chinese government says it will import more finished goods from Zambia to help the country overcome effects of the global financial crisis.
And the Chinese government has distanced itself from the US$53 million mobile clinic deal, saying it is a private company from that country that gave the Ministry of Health a business proposal which the Zambian government is free to take or not.
Visiting Chinese government’s special representative on African Affairs, Liu Guijin told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that his country imported more than it exported to Zambia.
“We wish to import more value-added and finished products from Zambia and other African countries so that they benefit from our assistance,” he said.
He said although copper prices have declined, the Chinese government is encouraging its people to expand their businesses in the mining sector in Zambia.
Mr Liu challenged African countries to produce more products that will meet the demand of the Chinese market.
He said the Chinese government is committed to giving zero tariffs to countries such as Zambia in its trade facilitation.
“We have opened up ourselves as a country and are willing to trade with African countries,” he said.
Mr Liu also said his country encourages Chinese investors to transfer technological skills to the local people.
He said Chinese investors are encouraged to employ as many local people as possible as a way of creating jobs.
Mr Liu said investors from his country have contributed positively to revenue, social and economic development and creation of jobs in Zambia.
And Chinese Embassy Charge D’Affaires Wang Ni said a Chinese company approached the Zambian Ministry of Health with a proposal of introducing mobile clinics.
He said this is in a bid to promote advanced equipment in the health sector.
Mr Wang, however, said it is up to the Zambian government to assess and decide whether or not mobile clinics are suitable for the country.
He said it is difficult for him to share the Chinese experience on mobile clinics because the two countries’ economies are different.
“In our case, we have thousands of hospitals which take a lot of resources to equip with drugs,” he said.
Mr Wang said his government has no hand in the deal.
And Mr Liu said his government is holding discussions with stakeholders on the best approach to make the Tanzania-Zambia railways economically viable.
“We are open to constructive ideas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has provided US$10 million towards the economic recovery of Zimbabwe.
Mr Liu said out of the money provided, US$5 million is towards reducing that country’s budgetary difficulties and the other towards humanitarian assistance.
He said China has encouraged its people to invest in Zimbabwe to help that country recover from its economic depression.
(daily-mail.co.zm)
Tags: Zambia
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