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(LUSAKATIMES) Zambia: CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia slams opposition politicians

Zambia: CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia slams opposition politicians

CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has described as denial, ill-motivated, loss of sight and vision for some politicians to attack Chinese investment. Mr Li commended President Banda for his consistent support to the process of ensuring resumption of production at the CLM mine.

Mr Li said it was sad that a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’ could attack China with a claim that the Chinese did not bring any investment when the investment was there for all to see.

Mr Li said it was sad that a ‘unique Zambian politician of rare breed’ could attack China with a claim that the Chinese did not bring any investment when the investment was there for all to see.

He was speaking during the production resumption ceremony at CLM mine in Luanshya yesterday.

He cited the construction of Tazara and the establishment of the Zambia-China economic and trade cooperation zone, the building of the Stadium in Ndola, construction of hospitals, schools and Hydro-power station as some of the investment under the aid of china.

“All those undertakings are not only well received and extensively recognised by all African governments and people on the continent but also applauded by the well travelled Western researchers and credible institutions.

“This politician’s remarks are absolutely baseless and ill motivated or he is just in denial or lost sight and vision which is very dangerous for any politician,” he said.

Mr Li praised the Zambian workers for working side by side with the investors to have the copper mine resuscitated.

He said during the last year’s global recession, Chinese funded companies, with government stakes and shares, forged ahead without reducing investment, laying off of employees and downsizing production.

He said the investment at the Luanshya mine would in two years time reach US$400 million and believed that the commitment of more investment, more recruitment and more output would demonstrate a more dynamic picture.

CLM chief executive officer Luo Xin’geng pledged the company’s commitment in continued investment in the mine.

Mr Luo said in Luanshya yesterday that CLM would put more emphasis on renovations and construction at the mine and the investment would next year increase to US$170 million from the current US$38 million.

Describing the production resumption as a Christmas gift to President Rupiah Banda, Mr Luo said that as production at the mine resumed, development of Mulyashi project was also in full swing.

Mr Luo said his company would strictly abide by the Zambian laws and regulations, respect Zambian culture and rely on Zambian employees to manage Luanshya mine and participate actively in the welfare of the community to benefit the people of Luanshya.

CLM board chairperson Tao Xinghu said the company would adopt new labour service articles and long term employment contracts next year.

Mr Tao said according to the company’s investment plan, the accumulative investment in the next two years would go beyond US$400 million and that CLM would have a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes of Copper after the development of Mulyashi mine.

[Times of Zambia]

Labels: AMBASSADOR, CHINA LUANSHYA MINE, LI QIANGMIN, PF-UPND, SATA

posted by MrK @ 9:43 AM