Maravi

Rupiah lists mobile hospitals among projects to be funded by China

Rupiah lists mobile hospitals among projects to be funded by China
By Fridah Zinyama
Sun 28 Feb. 2010, 04:30 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has submitted to the Chinese government possible projects which include the controversial mobile hospitals to be considered for the US $10 billion that China has provided to African countries in form of concessional loans.

Stakeholders had opposed the government’s intended purchase of mobile hospitals and asked the government to first deal with the challenges prevailing in the delivery of health services in rural areas before considering mobile hospitals.

During a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on Friday, President Banda said China’s gesture in providing the US $10 billion concessional loans to African countries would go a long way in consolidating the gains that have been achieved by countries such as Zambia.

“We have since submitted to the Chinese government projects for possible financing from the concessional and preferential loans in the following areas: health; particularly the provision of mobile hospitals, water and sanitation: in particular the provision of boreholes in the rural areas and improvement of water supply in Lusaka, construction of a stadium in Lusaka, housing and road construction,” he said.

President Banda said Zambia would be grateful for the Chinese government’s support to implement these projects speedily as they would positively contribute to poverty reduction.

And speaking at the China-Zambia Investment Promotion seminar at China Non Ferrous Metal Corporation headquarters in Beijing, President Banda urged more Chinese investors to visit Zambia as the country had many investment opportunities in different sectors of the economy.

“It is our wish to promote an environment in which partnerships between Zambian and Chinese business houses can be strengthened for the mutual benefit and to ensure a win-win outcome for the two countries,” he said.

President Banda said it was befitting and symbolic that the Zambia-China seminar was being hosted by China Non Ferrous Metal Corporation (CNMC), a Chinese company which had already made serious strides in consolidating the partnership between the two countries in economic, political, technological and cultural fields.

“I would like thank the Chinese government for their unwavering support during the global financial crisis,” President Banda said, adding that China’s contribution to the wellbeing of Zambia would be remembered especially when mining houses were closing in the country.

President Banda thanked the Chinese investors for coming to the country’s rescue and taking over a mine that had closed and not laying off any employees at Chambishi Metals.

“We would therefore like to invite more Chinese investment in areas like agriculture, mining, tourism, and manufacturing, energy and technology,” he said.

President Banda said the two countries have always enjoyed cordial relationships, which had seen China helping with building different infrastructure projects in Zambia.

Labels: CHINA, MOBILE HOSPITALS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:44 PM