By NOMSA NKANA
FIRST lady Dr Christine Kaseba says 2013 has been a year of greater cooperation between Zambia and China.
She said in the 50 years of co-operation between Zambia and China, the latter has assisted Zambia in building her economy and nation and has also shared her culture as evidenced by the performances at the festival.
Dr Kaseba said China has made an impact in Zambia through the generosity and goodwill of its people.
She was speaking at Levy Business Park in Lusaka where she graced the 2014 Chinese Spring Temple Fair festivities to mark the forthcoming Chinese lunar year which falls on January 31, 2014.
And Chinese ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao said one of the reasons for holding the festivities is to join Zambia in the celebration of its Golden Jubilee where gratifying achievements have been made.
“Politically you have nurtured a relatively matured multi-party democracy with peaceful transfer of power at all general elections; economically, you have become a low level middle income country which is able to export some grain, electricity, steel and cement to your neighbouring countries among others. As a friend, I must say I’m proud of you,” he said.
Mr Zhou said another reason for the festivities is to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Zambia.
He said Zambia has supported China by voting in her favour in multilateral affairs. He said Zambia also helped carry China into the United Nations together with other African countries, by providing copper for China’s industrial development and also making its market available for China’s goods and services.
Likewise, he said China has supported Zambia’s economic and social development through provision of infrastructure, investments, skills training, and labour among others.
Mr Zhou commended first republican President Kenneth Kaunda for creating the cordial relationship that exists between China and Zambia which has been carried on by all successive Governments.
“The existing relationship was further strengthened by the historic visit of President Michael Sata to China last year in April who chartered together with my President Xi Jinping a new course for mutually beneficial cooperation between us in the future.
He thanked the Shenzhen Art Troupe which came all the way from China and other cooperation partners for making the festival a success.
Meanwhile Dr Kaseba is optimistic that the introduction of vernacular languages in early primary schools will assist young children to value and understand Zambia’s heritage.
Dr Kaseba is concerned that most children in Zambia today may not appreciate the value and benefits of our cultural heritage with most of them hardly speaking their mother tongue.
Dr Kaseba also said embracing our culture gives us an identity, adding that it is critical to the future of our children and that it can also be an effective development tool for nations.
“Culture can be likened to oil in an engine. Without oil, the engine cannot run. Likewise culture keeps society running. I therefore implore Government to actively preserve our cultural heritage,” she said.
She said as the world becomes more global, the need for co-existence becomes imperative making co-existence of cultures and beliefs necessary.
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