CHONGWE, Zambia, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Zambia on Tuesday held a ceremony to mark 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The ceremony was held at the TAZARA Memorial Park in Chongwe District, about 39 km east of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. A wreath laying was conducted in honor of the Chinese nationals who died during the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) line.
The event, held under the theme "Pass on the TAZARA spirit to the next generation and jointly build a shared future," was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema as well as officials from both the Chinese Embassy and the Zambian government.
In his remarks, the Chinese ambassador paid gratitude to the founding leaders of the two countries for establishing the long-standing relationship which has stood the test of time and has been seen as a fine example of China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.
He said the unwavering spirit of perseverance, hard work, and selfless dedication exhibited by both Chinese and local people during the construction of the TAZARA line serves as an inspiration and a driving force for China-Zambia and China-Africa cooperation.
According to him, the revitalization of the railway line following a memorandum of understanding signed recently will not only enhance Zambia's trade and export, in particular but will also help the country become a regional industrial hub.
"I look forward to an even closer partnership between the Zambian government and the Chinese contractor to support the revitalization of TAZARA (line), for it is not just an enduring monument of our time-honored friendship, but also a pilot on how an aid project could sustain itself by market operations," he said.
The Chinese ambassador also underscored the importance of sensitizing the younger generation of the joint heritage as they were going to be future torchbearers of the China-Zambia friendship. He said the stories of the TAZARA line construction were the best illustration of the two countries' fight against oppression for freedom, adding that the TAZARA heroes and the spirit they embodied deserve to be properly documented and remembered by the young people through textbooks and stories of freedom fighters.
On his part, the Zambian president said the theme was appropriate as it emphasizes the need to pass on the spirit of the partnership between the two countries to the next generation with a shared future. He said the spirit of a shared partnership was evident in the way the two countries have related to each other in various areas over the years.
The Zambian president said the two countries were celebrating 60 years of partnership with renewed vigor and more focus on what the partnership means to the two governments. He, however, said there was a need to water and nurture the partnership so that it continues growing, adding that it was the duty of all stakeholders to nurture the partnership.
He also paid glowing tribute to the Chinese nationals who died during the construction of the TAZARA line, with the youngest being 22 years old, saying they sacrificed their lives and paid the utmost price.
The Zambian president and the Chinese ambassador also unveiled the commemorative envelope for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia during the ceremony.
And some students from universities, who attended the commemoration, said they were ready to contribute to further strengthening of the relationship between China and Zambia.
Lillian Mumbi, a student from the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies, said in an interview that she would share information about the relationship between the two countries with other young people. She said the students will use various platforms to share information on the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Kenneth Kasulo, a student from the University of Zambia, said the theme was appropriate as it was important for young people to understand the importance of the development of the country. ■