US,CHINA KEY IN ZAMBIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- Dr Chitalu Chilufya
…as he explains the Zambia has from time imemorial taken a non-aligned position on foreign policy
LUSAKA—Tuesday, January 24th 2023
SMART EAGLES
Patriotic Front (PF) President in waiting Hon. Dr Chitalu Chilufya has explained that Zambia takes a non-aligned positon when it comes to bilateral relations.
This comes in the wake of a public debate that has ensued on who, between China and America Zambia should align herself with.
But Dr. Chilufya has clearly indicated that both China and America play vital roles in the country’s affairs.
He said America spends billions of dollars in the health sector for the benefits of all Zambians that it’s relations must be cemented .
“Zambian foreign policy has been guided by tradition and a formal policy position. And we have basically followed the policy of none alignment. We have had this dichotomy of relations, America and China. I was privileged when I was minister of health and Zambia and America enjoy very warm bilateral relations and Zambia is a beneficiary of support from America,” he said.
“In the health sector, billions of dollars have been spent to set up the ART program in Zambia and we have received sufficient support in the human capital development in the supply chain and in strengthening health system in general. Zambia has also benefited in areas of governance, areas of agriculture, environmental protection when it comes to its relations with America.” He added .
And Dr. Chilufya said China has a commanding role in infrastructure development in Zambia.
“Secondly, China has a commanding role in infrastructure development in Zambia and they are contributing in transport, in the health sector and in many other sectors. So China and Zambia equally have had a good relationship,” he said.
“And again speaking as former minister of health, China sent its first medical team to Zambia in 1978 and we have had more than 22 medical teams that have come to Zambia since then that have been supporting service delivery.” He added.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya stressed the need for Zambia to sustain the said foreign policy.
“So Zambia has had warm bilateral relations with China. So I emphasize that traditionally, Zambia has maintained a non-aligned positon and has enjoyed warm relations with both America and China. And this is guided by our foreign policy and it’s a position that we would like to sustain,” he said.