MOA Senior Advisor Bi Meijia headed a Chinese delegation to the Republic of Zambia on 29-31 July 2017. He held talks with Zambian Agricultural Minister Ms. Dora Siliya and Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Ms. Margaret Mwanakatwe, respectively.
In his meeting with Ms. Dora Siliya, Senior Advisor Bi Meijia noted that China and Zambia are highly complementary to each other in agriculture, enjoying a solid foundation for agricultural cooperation with remarkable achievements. The MOA is willing to work with the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture to further practical cooperation and jointly implement agricultural cooperation activities under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Mr. Bi Meijia suggested that the two sides facilitate the building of the China-Zambia agricultural demonstration park, foster the sustainable development of China-aided Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center and other major joint projects in Zambia, and strengthen cooperation in human resources development and agricultural trade.
Minister Dora Siliya agreed with Mr. Bi on his proposal and expressed her appreciation to China for its long-standing assistance in agriculture. She expressed that Zambia would welcome more investment from Chinese agricultural enterprises, hoping that China could offer further support for Zambia's agricultural transformation and upgrading.
In Bi's meeting with Ms. Margaret Mwanakatwe, both sides spoke highly of the bilateral agricultural trade cooperation. Both agreed to promote agricultural investment cooperation, leverage the role of China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, and facilitate the implementation of edible fungus project as well as other major cooperative projects.
During its stay in Zambia, the Chinese delegation also held a meeting with representatives from China-funded enterprises, and conducted field visits to the demonstration center, a production base invested by Jihai Investment Management Co. LTD of Fujian Province and a sugarcane plantation in Mazabuka.