Chinese ambassador defends his nationals

Chinese ambassador defends his nationals
By Patson Chilemba
Friday August 17, 2007 [04:00]

CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has said some politicians' attacks against Chinese investors were unjustified. And Ambassador Li has said Zambia was currently among the main beneficiaries of Chinese investment.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Li said the urge by the West for African countries to be careful in their dealings with China was because the Africa-China co-operation had posed a challenge to the unfair and unjust international economic and political order. He said China's relations with African countries were very open and aimed at pursuing mutual benefits.

In an interview, Ambassador Li said the allegations against the Chinese investors were not true. Ambassador Li said China was a fast developing country and a very important country to the world and that no one could neglect its friendship.

"The Zambian government and most Zambian people are friendly to China, and that only few politicians tried to do something to attract public attention, win the support of the people and pursue their own personal interests," Ambassador Li said. "I want to use this opportunity to tell our Zambian friends that don't be misled. Any irresponsible remarks against China are short sighted."

Ambassador Li said most Zambians appreciated Chinese investment except for a few.
And Ambassador Qiangmin said Chinese investors have brought a lot of benefits to Zambia.

"So far, China's direct investment to Zambia is more than US$500 million. We employ more than 20,000 Zambians. Also we have a lot of exchange programmes in the cultural, public health, educational and military fields," Ambassador Li said.

"There are companies, for example, that deal in the manufacture of tractors, a very successful example is ZTE and Huawei Technology. Those are telecom companies. Most of the telephone equipment you use are from these companies."

Asked on the allegations that Chinese were handling jobs, which Zambians could handle, Ambassador Li said most products the Chinese produced could not be produced by Zambians.

"Frankly speaking, many consumables needed by the Zambian people cannot be produced by the Zambian people. You need to import," Ambassador Qiangmin said. "Probably you will just spend one-tenth, one-fifth or at most half the price to import similar products from China."

Ambassador Li said China produced cheap but good quality products. He said Chinese goods coming into Zambia were those that were needed for the Zambian market.

However, Ambassador Li said the Chinese government was encouraging their nationals to get more into technology transfer than just trade.

Ambassador Li also said the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Line and the government building and setting up of Mulungushi Textiles had brought a lot of benefits to Zambia.

Asked on the situation in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Li said the problems facing Zimbabwe should be resolved by the Zimbabwean people and believed that the people in southern Africa were able to work together and find a solution that was acceptable to the region.

"Sanctions and the pressure were not the way out. Dialogue and consultation would provide the best solution," he said.