BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday
in a phone conversation with Zambian President Edgar Lungu that the two
countries' joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to
help lift their relations to a higher level, better benefiting the two
peoples. Noting that the novel coronavirus pandemic stands as a grim crisis
and test for the world, Xi said that China and Africa, in the face of
the outbreak, have firmly stood together, supporting each other and
joining hands in the fight. He said African countries including Zambia delivered invaluable
support to China in the early days of its epidemic fight, and China, who
empathized with them when they were hit by the virus, took the lead in
providing support and anti-epidemic supplies as well as in sharing the
experience in virus prevention and control so as to help improve their
anti-coronavirus work. The Chinese president said that he has repeatedly called for
strengthening the support to African countries, adding that China is
stepping up the implementation of related measures, and will continue to
do what it can to help Zambia and other African countries beat the
virus and restore economic and social development. Xi said he also believes that the normal life and work of Chinese
nationals and operations of Chinese enterprises in Zambia will continue
to be guaranteed by the Zambian side. Xi stressed that in recent years, the friendly and cooperative
relations between China and Zambia have maintained a good momentum, and
they have supported each other on issues concerning each other's core
interests and major concerns. Although the pandemic has brought difficulties to face-to-face
bilateral exchanges, the solidarity and cooperation between China and
Zambia have been advancing, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to
work with Zambia to tide over the difficulties, implement the outcomes
of the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19,
and figure out flexible and diverse ways to steadily advance bilateral
cooperation while striving to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control. The two countries should step up coordination and cooperation to
firmly defend international fairness and justice, uphold
multilateralism, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of
developing countries, said Xi. Xi added that he believes the two countries' joint fight against the
pandemic will help lift China-Zambia relations to a higher level, better
benefiting the two peoples. For his part, Lungu said Zambia highly values its friendship with
China and is grateful for China's enormous and precious help to his
country's economic development over the years. Zambia speaks highly of Xi's proposals made at the Extraordinary
China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 held in June and
thanks China for its support to Africa's anti-virus fight, he said,
adding that he believes that China's successful experience and
achievements in vaccine and medicine research and development results
will help step up African countries' confidence and play a significant
role in their fight to beat the virus. China is a great friend of the Zambian people, said Lungu. Zambia
will firmly stand together with China on issues regarding its core
interests, staying committed to its adherence to the one-China policy
and firmly supporting the Chinese government's legitimate position and
measures on the issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang, among others,
he said. The Zambian president added that his country welcomes investment from
Chinese enterprises, and is willing to conduct close communication and
coordination with the Chinese side, and work together to strengthen
multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of
developing countries. Enditem
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