By 
Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda has remained a respected figure in China for his contribution to the growth of China-Africa friendship.
It is for this reason that an exhibition has been opened in the African Museum of the Zhejiang University in China about Dr Kaunda’s efforts in ensuring that China-Africa friendship is fully realized.
African Museum of the Zhejiang University Executive Director, Yoro Diallo, said the first Zambian president was respected because of the value he contributed to the China-Africa friendship, which had enabled an increasing number of African countries to establish bilateral ties with China.
In an interview on Thursday in China, Diallo noted that the history of China and Africa could not be complete without the inclusion of Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s milestone contribution.
Diallo said Dr Kaunda’s commitment and selflessness could be traced from the early days when he, together with his Tanzanian counterpart Julius Nyerere, secured the support of China to construct the TAZARA railway line during the reign of Chairman Mao Zedong.
He said Zambia’s young generation and all citizens in the country should value the history of the country’s first president who worked hard to ensure that African countries in general, and Zambia in particular,built strong ties and all-weather friendship with China.
“In China-Africa cooperation, specifically China-Zambia, people appreciate the first leader of Zambia for the contribution he made because of his engagements. His involvement also in uniting Africa’s ideologically is great, both economic and political cooperation.
“In the Chinese governance system, they do not forget and the beginning of good cooperation for them with people who pushed the cooperation with China is forever valued,” Diallo said.
He said in his interaction with high level leaders, including students at the museum, Zambia had an important place in the heart of China looking at how involved the country was in building bilateral and mutual friendship for most African nations.
Diallo urged African countries to hold highly the contributions of their leaders in ensuring cordial growth of bilateral and diplomatic friendship, such as what the first Zambian president did.
Zambia, through the leadership of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and other African countries, played an important role in helping China regain its seat in the United Nations (UN) in 1971.
In recent years, the assistance from China and fruitful friendly cooperation had helped to strengthen Zambia’s economic and social development, with the Zambian government assuring China of its readiness to further promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Contributed by Dorothy Chisi
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