- Title: Chinese premier makes landmark Zambia trip as West vies for investment foothold
- Date: 19th November 2025
- Summary: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (NOVEMBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF KENNETH KAUNDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT VARIOUS OF TRADITIONAL DANCE GROUP SINGING AND DANCING PLANE OF CHINESE PREMIER MOVING TOWARDS PARKING ZAMBIAN VICE PRESIDENT MUTALE NALUMANGO WALKING WITH OFFICIALS TOWARDS THE PLANE WOMAN CARRYING FLOWERS CHINESE PREMIER L
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Africa China Zambia bilateral copper diplomacy politics rail trade
- Location: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
- City: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
- Country: Zambia
- Topics: Africa,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001335819112025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Zambia welcomed Chinese premier on Wednesday (November 19) for the first time in 28 years as the sub-Saharan state emerges from a financial crisis, with Beijing eager to access commodities and develop a bigger market for its exporters.
China is Zambia's largest official creditor, owed $5.7 billion and keen to highlight countries that are model members of President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
China has said it would also like to show how African nations can recover from financial crises with its assistance.
Premier Li Qiang's arrival in Lusaka is part of a push to deepen China's presence in the copper-rich country as Europe and the U.S. vie to be alternative benefactors now that Zambia's $13.4 billion in debt is on a more sustainable repayment plan.
Industrialising Zambia needs fresh investment in mining, infrastructure and production capacity, while China wants to boost exports of tractors, electrical equipment and construction vehicles.
The World Bank expects Zambia's economy to grow 6.5% next year, outstripping an average of 5% over the past two decades.
(Production: Moses Mwape, Sisipho Skweyiya) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None