Chinese firm hands over earth-moving equipment to Zambia
DATE:2015-09-10 SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency
LUSAKA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company on Tuesday handed over heavy duty earth-moving equipment to the Zambian government meant to help the country open up rural areas through the construction of good roads.
AVIC International handed over the equipment during a ceremony held in Lusaka, the country''s capital which was attended by Zambian President Edgar Lungu and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming.
The equipment was procured by the Zambian government and given to the Zambia National Service (ZNS), a Ministry of Defense unit that is also involved in infrastructure programs and agricultural production.
Liu Jun, the company''s vice-president said during the ceremony that the cooperation in the earth-moving equipment program was another great example of China-Zambia relations and that it will have greater benefits and huge social and economic benefits to Zambia.
"Following the successful execution and operation of supplying construction machinery in the year 2000, we are happy to see that we have had the opportunity to successfully cooperate with the Ministry of Defense in this earth-moving equipment," he said.
"This project not only aims at supplying the good quality equipment to Zambians, but also transferring and training quite a number of Zambian youth with repairing skills, maintenance knowledge and operating essentials to the earth-moving equipment through the training program and after-sale service," he added.
According to him, the first 20 Zambian mechanics and operators have already been trained in China with the earth-moving equipment for one month while more than 300 other mechanics and operators will have their professional training program in Zambia.
The Chinese ambassador said during the same occasion that the new equipment will further enhance the government''s operation capacity in infrastructure construction, and make greater contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.
He said the two governments were currently working together to implement the outcomes of the Zambian leader''s visit to China in March this year.
"We are looking forward to making joint efforts with the Zambian side to carry forward the China-Zambia all-weather friendship and promote our bilateral friendly and mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields to a new height," he said.
On his part, the Zambian leader said the equipment will complement current ongoing infrastructure projects throughout the country.
The Zambian leader said the equipment will be distributed to various parts of the country and be used in the construction of feeder roads and bridges as part of the government''s efforts to open up rural areas.
"My government realizes that if the hardships of people in rural areas are to be alleviated, there is need for them to access markets. The government cannot continue to pay a blind eye to the hardships of people in rural areas. People in rural areas have continued to produce food under difficult conditions," he added.