By Senior Editor, China Africa News
Lusaka, China and Zambia are weaving a story that feels bigger than two nations it’s becoming a living emblem of South–South cooperation, says Han Jing, China’s ambassador to Zambia. In his words, their relationship has become not just bilateral, but a benchmark: a tapestry of friendship, shared ambition, and concrete development.
Han often points to how, in 2023, China and Zambia elevated their relationship to a “comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership,” a move that unlocked new possibilities and laid the groundwork for more ambitious collaboration.
He highlights major joint projects: the 100-megawatt Chisamba solar plant now humming with power, and the reopening of Zambia’s Lubambe Copper Mine, signaling a resurgence in mining cooperation. But perhaps most symbolic is the Tanzania–Zambia Railway (TAZARA), a historic iron artery built with Chinese support decades ago. That railway, says Han, is more than steel and sleepers: it’s a monument to China-Africa friendship.
Revitalizing it, he argues, could transform Zambia’s fate turning it into a “land-linked country” and a regional industrial hub.
The broader vision, for Han, is deeply rooted in a shared development philosophy. In a recent signed article in the Zambian press, he spelled out how China and Zambia are “fellow travelers on the road to modernization.”
That piece also charts concrete plans: green industries, digital economy cooperation, even building up Zambia’s vaccine manufacturing capacity.
He speaks of long-term commitment no matter how international winds change, China’s doors stay wide open.
Trade, he reminds, is not just numbers. But the figures are striking: in 2024, China–Zambia trade hit $67.03 billion according to his article. Han also notes that over 600 Chinese companies are operating in Zambia, together putting in more than $38 billion, and creating some 30,000 jobs locally.
On infrastructure, there’s a flurry of activity: roads, airports, solar power stations, deep mine shafts all built with an eye toward Zambia’s future.
The ambassador’s reflections are also framed in the spirit of solidarity. In his words, China-Zambia cooperation is a “model for South–South cooperation” a partnership not born of charity, but of mutual respect. It’s this sense of equals working together, he argues, that makes their bond special.
This is evident also in China’s participation in the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Han emphasizes that the 2024 FOCAC summit’s outcomes are not just lofty goals: they are being translated into a “matrix” to guide real action on the ground.
