Vice President Inonge Wina has arrived in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province, China to attend the Zambia week exposition aimed at promoting and cementing trade, investment and tourism ties between the two countries.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Wina who is accompanied by her Senior Private Sectetary Ambassador Sheila Silweya arrived at Chengdu International Airport at about 13:05 hrs local time.
She was received by Zambia’s Ambassador to China Winnie ChibesaKunda, Vice Secretary General of Sichuan Province People’s Government Zhao Weiping , Zambian government officials and other Chinese officials.
Speaking in an interview upon arrival, Mrs Wina said the Zambia week is a brilliant initiative aimed at marketing Zambia’s trade, investment and tourism potential .
The Vice President noted that the lack of strengthening provinces has affected the implementation of the decentralization programme.
Mrs Wina however expressed confidence that the twinning programme of Chinese and Zambian provinces will help bring development to provinces and especially change the socio-economic landscape of rural provinces.
“This is a very good initiative that if followed well can change the economic landscape in the country. We want to see power devolving to other parts of the country so that the rural areas are transformed , ” said Mrs Wina.
The Vice President said it’s imperative that provinces should begin to contribute positively to the national gross domestic product.
She said government will soon ensure that economic activities are triggered in provinces and provincial economic performances and contributions are monitored to help bring development to the people.
And Lusak province minister Japhen Mwakalombe said his province is ready to learn from Sichuan Province to steer development in Lusaka province.
Mr Mwakalombe said Lusaka province is positioning itself to deliver to people and transform the region.
He thanked government for allowing Lusaka province to host the 2022 African Union (AU) as it will help the province position itself for tourism.
And Ambassador ChibesaKunda told the Vice President that China is ready to help transform Zambia into a flourishing modern state.
She said the Embassy has brokered partnership deals for the private sector to develop and drive Zambia’s economy.
The Zambia week which runs from July 26 to 29 is an initiative of the Zambian Embassy in China to provide a platform to market Zambia’s tourism potential and as a prefered investment destination to China through trade and cultural tourism exhibitions.
As part of the Zambia week activities, the Vice President is expected to hold a series of meetings with Chinese government officials and businesses in Chengdu and Miyang cities in Sichuan province.
Mrs Wina is expected to attend the Sichuan International Youth Cultural festival that will see a group of Zambian cultural dancers participate in the high profile cultural event.
According to Ambassador ChibesaKunda, Mrs Wina will also launch a historic and first ever twinning programme between Chinese and Zambian provinces.
The Zambian envoy said the Vice President will also sign a memorandum of understanding and launch the twinning programne between Sichuan Province of China and Lusaka Province in Zambia as well as the cooperative agreement between Miayang City and Chongwe District Council.
Lusaka Province Minister Japhen Mwakalombe, Permanent Secretary for Office of the Vice President Steven Mwansa and his Tourism counterpart Leah Mutale and Mayor of Chongwe George Chumbwe will be among government officials to witness the historic moment .
The launch of the twinning programme is expected to be rolled out to all ten provinces to spur the decentralization programme and change the management and socio-economic landscape of provinces in Zambia .
The twinning programme is expected to initiate the setting up of industries by chinese provinces according to the economic potentials of the respective twinned Zambian provinces.
Lusaka and Eastern provinces have respectively been earmarked for manufacturing , recycling and agro- textile industries by Sichuan and Shandong provinces.
Mrs Wina is also expected to visit the National Science and Technology Centre and also sample the tourism of Chengdu City by visiting the Panda Conservation and Research Centre.
The Vice President will also tour an irrigation system to learn best practices as Zambia strives to shift economic dependence from copper mining to agriculture .
Last year in November, President Edgar Lungu sent provincial ministers to China for a development seminar which has resulted in among others the twinning programme.
No Clout ba Inonge, time to step aside!
It should have been Edgar going away with his criminals working for him. Its waste of resources to keep those guys in Lusaka, peeing on unmaintained statehouse walls all week long.
Then Inonge stays running country with Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Another useless old hen wasting jet fuel!!
Her Ever travelling boss must be tired from all his wild trips, this is a rare moment for the old hag to make some allowance.
Jay Jay, Umodzi Kumawa and Nostradamus, all three of you are very dull chaps, with nothing o do in life. Very useless excuses of human beings you are.
How did you come to that conclusion?
I thick MUM should step down from politics and seek the heavenly kingdom were love, peace and justice prevail rather this worldly kingdoms that belong to the DEVIL. However we love u mum and we pray that u should look unto Gods WORK FIRST then knowledge en wisdom shall be granted unto u in line with your leadership skills.
Reconciliation talks by Catholic Bishops are working, Lungu did not travel to China. He’s started feeling comfortable that the Bishops calmed HH