Vice President Mutale Nalumango has expressed confidence that the 2026 Zambia Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair will spur bilateral relations between the two countries.
Mrs Nalumango pointed out that the hosting of the spring festival will further enhance people-to-people interactions between Zambia and China.
Speaking when she officiated at this year’s Zambia Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair, Mrs Nalumango said the event is also aimed at encouraging more collaboration between the people of Zambia and China.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Nalumango highlighted that the Spring Festival is a platform for promoting trade and investment for entrepreneurs in both countries.
“It may interest you all to note that the people-to-people cooperation is one of the China-Africa 10-point partnership action plans.”
She said the Zambia Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair has the potential to accelerate bilateral ties between Zambia and China.
The Vice President also indicated that she was confident that the festival will act as a catalyst for enhancing business linkages for the two countries.
“I am confident that the event will also catalyse the enthusiasm of business linkages between Zambia and China”. The Vice President said.
Mrs Nalumango stressed that the festival is in alignment with Zambia’s desire to forge closer economic and business relations with Chinese investors.
“As the event is consistent with Zambia’s desire to forge closer economic and business relationships with Chinese investors,” she said.
She hoped that the 2026 Zambia Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair will create opportunities for enhancing people-to-people interaction and business linkages.
Mrs Nalumango said the celebration of the festival is a testament to the cordial relations that exist between Zambia and China.
“This celebration today is therefore an actualisation of this important partnership action here in Zambia.”
Meanwhile, the Vice President said Zambia is proud of the elevated bilateral friendship with China.
Mrs Nalumango noted that the bilateral relations between the two countries have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership with China.
“On this special occasion, I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm that Zambia is proud of the elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership with China.”
She disclosed that the friendship is based on mutual respect in various key sectors of the economy.
The Vice President described the relations between Zambia and China as an all-weather friendship.
Mrs Nalumango said China has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting Zambia’s industrialisation journey.
And Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba says the Zambia Chinese Spring Festival Temple Fair is proof that culture plays an important role in uniting people of different ethnicities.
Mr Sikumba said culture acts like a bridge that connects communities across the globe.
He further explained that culture is key in promoting tourism and highlighting different cultural beliefs.
Mr Sikumba said the Chinese festival provides an opportunity for Zambia to learn from what China has embraced as culture.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism says the friendship between Zambia and China has created job opportunities for Zambians and investment opportunities for Chinese investors.
Mr Sikumba pointed out that the wavering off of visa restrictions by the Zambian government in 2025 has further enhanced the friendship bonds between the two countries.
The Minister of Tourism hoped that China would reciprocate the waiver of the visa requirement.
Meanwhile, Chinese Embassy in Zambia Chargé d’Affaires Wang Sheng said the Spring Festival is a cultural event that brings Chinese people together with people of different nationalities.
Mr Sheng said the hosting of the Spring Festival has energised and rejuvenated bilateral relations between China and Zambia.
“We are confident that the event will help to bring people together and inject new dynamism in the development of bilateral relations.”
