President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday that his country will further strengthen ties with Zambia and actively implement the cooperation projects between the two countries.

 

The fruitful bilateral cooperation in economy and trade has brought substantial benefits to the two peoples, Hu said while meeting with Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa.

 

Mwanawasa said the Zambian people will never forget the selfless assistance from China. To develop friendship and cooperation with China is a firm policy of Zambia, which will stick to the one-China policy, he said.

 

He also hoped to further cooperation with China in fields of trade, investment and infrastructure.

 

Mwanawasa arrived here on Thursday for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held on November 4-5.

 

China and Zambia established diplomatic relations in October 1964. Bilateral trade hit US$300 million in 2005.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2006)