On the morning of July 26 local time, Zambian President Rupiah Banda met with visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo in Lusaka, capital of Zambia.

President Banda expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral ties. He said that Zambia has achieved obvious economic and social progress in recent years and great changes have taken place in the country's outlook. He contributed this partly to the concrete cooperation with China. It's believed that Zambia will experience new change with further development of bilateral friendship and cooperation, Banda said, expressing hope to keep on high-level exchanges, contacts between the parties of the two countries, as well as cooperation in all fields such as economy, trade, infrastructure, education and health care, with the aim to push Zambia-China relations to a new level.

The President noted that it is grateful to see active investment from China to Zambia, which did help the country overcome the difficulties encountered in the global financial crisis. Chinese investors are always welcomed to start business in Zambia as an engine to boost local economy.

Dai said China is delighted with Africa’s development and will unswervingly adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and non-interference into each other's internal affairs. China firmly supports African nations' efforts to safeguard state independence and sovereignty and fight against foreign interference.

On the same day, Dai also met with Zambian Vice President George Kunda and former President Kenneth Kaunda, exchanging views on the development of China-Zambia and China-Africa relations.