Q. As the new Ambassador to Zambia, what is your plan to strengthen the bilateral relations between the Republic of Zambia and the Peoples of Republic of China?
A. As the new Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, I do have a plan to enhance China-Zambia relations.The first is to make sure that the Chinese government’s set policy of developing friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with the Republic of Zambia will not change with the change of ambassador.If there will be changes, then they should be changes for the better.The second is to continue and complete all that my predecessor Ambassador Li Qiangmin has started and build on what he has left, so as to make sure that the close partnership between China and Zambia is not be disrupted.Third is to explore new ways and areas for expanding and deepening our bilateral relations.In one word, I shall work closely together with the Zambian government and people to push our bilateral relations to a new height for the benefit of both countries.
Q. What is the value of Chinese investment in Zambia currently?
A. Chinese investors have become major players in Zambia’s key economic sectors.By the end of 2010, China’s total investment in Zambia reached about US$ 2 billion, making China the third largest investor for Zambia.Currently there are around 300 Chinese companies operating in Zambia, the majority of which are private companies.The main sectors that Chinese investment flowed into are mining, manufacturing, agriculture, trade, infrastructure, tourism, technology, energy supply, telecommunication, etc.According to the data from the Zambian Investment Center, Chinese investment has created more than 25,000 jobs for the local people.
Q. What is your comment on the value of Chinese investment in Zambia?
A. The all-weather friendship between China and Zambia has stood the test of time.During the world financial crisis when other investors withdrew from Zambia, Chinese companies did not cut down production, did not reduce investment, and did not lay off local workers.On the contrary, China Non-ferrous and Jinchuan even took over Luanshya Copper Mine and Munali Nickel Mine respectively, bringing these two mines back to life and creating over 3,400 jobs.If an employed person supports 4 family members, those job opportunities brought direct benefits to over 13,600 people.All those fully demonstrated that a friend in need is a friend indeed.
Another good example is that the Chinese-invested poultry and agricultural farms, about 20 at this moment, have contributed to the ending of Zambia's history of importing eggs from abroad. Obviously, they have been playing an important role in flourishing the local markets in addition to the sizable employments for local people brought by those farms.
During the Chinese Spring Festival in 2010, my Embassy rewarded some Chinese companies and entrepreneurs with the titles of “Excellent Chinese Companies in Zambia”, Excellent entrepreneurs”, “Outstanding Envoys” and “Good Examples of Young Businessmen”, so as to encourage the Chinese companies to strengthen cooperation with their Zambian counterparts in a win-win manner and expand their corporate or social responsibilities for the local community.
Q. Should the people of Zambia expect an increase in investment realizing that this is an election year when investors and other financiers withhold their resources?
A. Zambia has held several elections in a decade or more, and it has been able to maintain a very good record of peace and stability in election years.Zambia has always enjoyed the good reputation as “the cradle of peace” in Southern Africa.We tend to believe that Zambia is a matured nation.Chinese investors have confidence in Zambian government, political parties and voters in handling the coming election.So far, they still regard the investment environment in Zambia as favorable.Therefore, Chinese investment is coming steadily and normally.As far as I know, the Chinese Embassy has not advised any Chinese companies to withhold their financial resources.
Q. China has faced stiff accusations on labor matters. What is your response to views that Chinese employers underpay Zambian workers and that they violate labor laws?
A. China stands for equality and mutual benefit in carrying out foreign economic activities. The Chinese government encourages Chinese companies with competence and ability to invest in Zambia and other African countries and demands them to abide by local laws and regulations, protect local employees' legal rights and the local environment, and bear their due social and corporate responsibilities.
When Chinese companies register themselves with the relevant Zambian government, they should abide by the relevant Zambian laws as Zambian companies do.The Chinese companies and the Zambian companies should enjoy the same rights and bear the same responsibilities unless there are otherwise legal stipulations they need to follow as specified in contracts.The Chinese companies should not be asked to bear more or less responsibilities just because they are foreigners.
I have been working in 4 African countries for the last 10 years and I have visited numerous Chinese companies.Almost all the companies that I visited give better pay and more benefits to their local employees than the local companies do.They all do corporate responsibility projects and programs.They are largely and warmly welcomed by local government and communities.Even as a visitor, I am always warmly welcomed by the local communities in which there are Chinese projects.I have visited about 10 Chinese companies since my arrival in Zambia 50 days ago and I got more or less the same stories and conclusions.Therefore, the generalization that Chinese companies underpay Zambian employees is not true, at least not accurate.I do not completely rule out some possibility where some small Chinese businessmen underpay their employees and they should be addressed by local labor aurthorities.If they refuse to correct, they should be handled according to relevant Zambian laws.
On the other hand, I wish to point out that demonization of China or Chinese companies has become a common tool for China’s competitors to contain China’s increasing presence in Africa.I sincerely advise the African media to guard against this unhealthy tendency.I hope that African media will have its independent views and analysis.I also hope that African media will recognize the undeniable fact that it is China’s presence that has greatly increased and enhanced the bargaining chips for African countries to conduct its international business both politically and economically and that it is China that has been building roads, railways, bridges, hydropower stations, sports stadiums, hospitals, schools, agricultural centers, farms and etc.They are real and essential infrastructures and industries that promote social and economic development in Africa.I am a doer. In my personal opinion, any action, no matter how imperfect it is, is thousand times better than lip services.
Q. What is your comment on the accusation that the quality of Chinese products is low?
A. Since the question of product quality relates to trade, let me say a few words about China-Zambia trade.In recent years, Zambia-China trade has been growing very fast.Total import and export volume jumped from US$ 100 million at the beginning of the century to US$ 1.45 billion in 2009 and to US$ 2.85 billion in 2010.China was the second largest destination of Zambian exports and the fourth largest source of Zambia’s imports in 2010.Zambia has long enjoyed a surplus in its bilateral trade with China.
To further expand imports from Zambia, China has granted Zero-tariff treatment to 60% of the products originating from Zambia to China in 2010, covering farm produce, stone material, minerals, leather and hide, textiles, clothing, electric appliances, machinery and equipment.This treatment will soon be extended to 95% of the export products from Zambia to China.
China also tries to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with Zambia through exhibitions and fairs.Zambian entrepreneurs are invited to attend annual China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou and China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen.
These measures have greatly promoted our bilateral trade, enriched the Zambian local market, lower the prices of commodities and improved the terms of trade which Zambians have never enjoyed in history.
Coming back to your question, Chinese companies produce goods of various qualities to meet the needs of different categories of consumers. The very best quality goods are very expensive while the low quality goods are extremely cheap.For instance, a pair of high quality Nike sporting shoes made in China may cost several hundred US dollars.But a pair of low quality sporting shoes costs only a few dollars.As some African scholars points out, thanks to the cheap products from China, many African families, especially those in the lowest hierarchy of society, can enjoy the basic supply of products for daily use.If one wants to spend only few dollars for a pair of shoes, one should not expect the shoes to be as durable and comfortable as Nike shoes.
However, I do not deny there might be a small number of petty traders who sell fake or sub-standard goods.It is not only Zambians who hate them, we Chinese hate them too, because they hurt Chinese more than Zambians as they do enormous harms to the image of China and the Chinese manufacturing industry.The Chinese government has formulated very stern measures to fight against those malpractices.They are punished severely once they are caught.But as long as there is a market out there, there bound to be someone who will try their luck.We are willing to work together with Zambian relevant authorities to crack down on them.The Chinese Embassy will be more than happy to get Zambian substantiated reports exposing the organized traders of shoddy goods, so that we can jointly facilitate our law enforcement agencies to handle them according to laws of our respective countries.
Q. The Lusaka economic zone, when will the region start operating? How many Chinese firms are expected to come to the Lusaka economic zone?
A. During his visit to Zambia in 2007, H.E. Chinese President Hu Jintao and H.E. Zambian President Mwanawasa together laid the foundation for the China-Zambia Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone which is located in Chambishi and managed by the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Corporation. By the end of 2010, it realized FDI of US$ 800 million with 13 companies operating in the zone, such as the Chambishi Copper Smelter Limited. Their operation covers the areas of exploration, mining, nonferrous metal processing, chemical engineering and so on, creating more than 4,000 job opportunities. According to the plan of the Zone, by 2012, more than 50 large investors shall enter the Zone and offer 6,000 jobs.
The Lusaka Economic Zone is a part of the China-Zambia Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.Preparatory work, such as leveling the ground, building roads and factory buildings as well as linking the Zone with Zesco power grid，city water-supply line，etc. started in 2009.It is expected to start operation by the end of this year. 20 officials and managerial personnel are now in China attending a training course on how to handle matters related to operation of the Zone.Once in full operation, it is expected to become an economic center on the African North-South Economic Corridor.
Q. Could you tell us something about Chinese aid to Zambia?
A. While more and more Chinese investment flows into Zambia, aid from China in the form of grant, interest-free loans and concessional loans has also increased over the years, covering areas like infrastructure, agriculture, education, health, training, scholar exchange, and so on .
In 2006, at the Beijing FOCAC Summit, Chinese President, H.E.Hu Jintao announced eight measures to step up China-Africa cooperation and support the development of African countries.Zambia, as an all-weather friend of China, received the most benefits from the Eight Measures.
Debt in the form of interest-free loans that matured by the end of 2009 was canceled by the Chinese government.
Grant projects including two rural basic schools, Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, Lusaka General Hospital and Ndola Stadium have been completed or are about to be completed.
Preferential loans have been provided to finance capital intensive projects of great importance to Zambian people, such as the supply of earth moving equipment, the construction of grain silos, renovation of government complex building, container scanning equipment, Lusaka Stadium, mobile hospitals, Mongu-Kalabo road, and so on.
Short training programs for capacity-building were offered to 210 persons from Zambia in 2010 alone.
From 1978 up to now, China has provided more than 500 scholarships to Zambia.Most have graduated from Chinese universities.There are still 179 Zambians now studying in China on Chinese government scholarships.This year alone, we have offered 43 scholarships to Zambians to pursue their university education in China.
In addition to a team of 7 army doctors in the Zambian army hospital, 28 Chinese civilian doctors have been working in five cities in Zambia, using their skills to alleviate pains of Zambian patients. 4 anti-malaria experts and 3 agricultural experts were dispatched to help train the local technicians.
In 2009 at the fourth ministerial conference of FOCAC held in Sharm el-Sheikh, China proposed eight new measures to advance the new strategic partnership with Africa, covering areas of agriculture, health, disease prevention and treatment, clean energy and water hygiene, training, credit access, trade promotion, debt relief and investment expansion.As always, China’s aid to Zambia, as to African countries, is sincere, neither interfering in Zambia’s international affairs, nor seeking any political privilege.
The world is undergoing unprecedented changes, but the friendship and cooperation between China and Zambia will never change.China will work more closely with Zambia, enhance our bilateral economic and trade cooperation, help with Zambia’s social and economic development, and bring more tangible benefits to Zambian people.
Q. What role will China play in the 2011 elections that Zambia will conduct? Is China providing any assistance?
A. The coming election is a big political event in which the Zambia people will elect their future leader according to their own will and choice.We are happy to see that this popular and democratic election will take place very soon.Since this is Zambia’s domestic affair, China will not play a direct role in the coming election and it is not giving any assistance.The indirect role China plays is that China has been helping to promote Zambia’s social and economic development which, in my humble personal opinion, is indispensible for a peaceful and smooth election, as election can not be held in a dilapidated social and economic environment.
Q. What is your message to political parties and Zambians in general regarding the forthcoming tripartite elections?
A. As a friend of Zambia, I wish to see a peaceful, free and fair election in Zambia. Zambia is a peace-loving nation with matured political parties and voters.I hope that all political parties will seriously followed the Code of Conduct promulgated by the Election Commission of Zambia in carrying out their election campaigns.Zambia has held peaceful and successful elections before.With the experience gained previously, I am confident that the next election will be conducted in an even better manner.I am delighted to see that Zambian people will choose a leader who can best serve their interests. China will respect the choice to be made by Zambian people.
Q. Do you have any other message or comment regarding your tour of duty in Zambia?
A. I am very pleased and honored to be the Ambassador to Zambia for the following reasons: Zambia is a beautiful country with pleasant climate and beautiful environment; The Zambian people are very polite and kind and they are very friendly towards the Chinese people; China-Zambia relations are one of the closest and the most important bilateral relations between China and African countries; The policies adopted by the Zambian government are business friendly and conducive for investment and development.The space and potentials for bilateral cooperation are extremely huge.That means there is lot to do in the next 3 or 4 years during my tenure of office.I like challenges and I am ready to meet with those challenges.I shall work as diligently as possible to further enhance the win-win cooperation between China and Zambia.I am very confident that with joint efforts to be made by both sides, our future relations will be better and more comprehensive than what is today.I wish Zambia and its people all the best.
