Lusaka - Chinese President Hu Jintao departed Zambia Monday
morning for Namibia, the fifth stop on his 10-day tour of eight
African countries, during which he is seeking to expand Chinese trade
and investment in the region.
Hu and his Zambian counterpart Levy Mwanawasa on Sunday unveiled
an 800-million-dollar Chinese investment package centred on the
creation of a special economic zone that the Zambian leader said
would create 60,000 jobs.
Some 200 Chinese firms already have investments in Zambia.
Chinese firms will operate free of import duties and VAT in the
economic zone.
During his visit, Hu visited the Chinese-owned Chambishi Mine in
Zambia's Copper Belt region north of Lusaka where a new
200-million-dollar smelter is planned.
The Zambian and Chinese leaders signed a total of eight
cooperation agreements on aid and investment.
These included agreements on Chinese technical training for
Zambian agriculture experts, an interest-free loan towards road-
making equipment, the building of two rural schools and a football
stadium, special treatment for Zambian exports to China and work
permits for Chinese workers.
China also agreed to write off over 3 million dollars Zambia owes
Beijing.
Hu met Zambia's founding father, Kenneth Kaunda, describing him as
an inspiration to the liberation struggle in Africa and Southern
Africa in particular.
Kaunda was the first Southern African leader to open diplomatic
relations with China 43 years ago upon attaining independence from
Britain, Hu noted.
Kaunda, for his part, described China as an all-weather friend of
Zambia.
While welcoming the cooperation with China Zambians are worried
that buried in the fine print of the deals could be conditions
detrimental to Zambian interests.
Workers at a Chinese-owned mine rioted last year over working
conditions.
Zambians also fear the threat to local manufacturing from cheap
Chinese imports, for example in textiles. An agreement signed
Saturday allows Zambian goods improved access to Chinese markets,
increasing the number of tariff-free items from 190 to 400.
Hu is the first Chinese head of state to visit Zambia since
independence. Opposition politicians critical of China were kept at
bay during his visit.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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