LUSAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Tuesday launched the upgrading work of a key highway undertaken by Chinese firms.
Last year, MOIC-LN Consortium Limited comprising of Chinese companies was awarded the contract to upgrade the Lusaka-Ndola road into a 327-km dual carriageway linking Lusaka, the country's capital and Ndola city in the Copperbelt province.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said that the project was beneficial not only for Zambia but also for the southern African region.
Zambian Minister of Technology and Science Felix Mutati said the project would accelerate skills transfer to Zambian companies and create more jobs.
As China and Zambia celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the project is a good example of high-quality bilateral cooperation and will improve the economic development of Zambia, Wang Sheng, minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said at a groundbreaking ceremony at Kapiri Mposhi, one of four construction sites.
"Transport infrastructure is crucial to the social and economic development of a country. The strategic importance of this road goes beyond physical infrastructure, (it is) also important to the economy of Zambia," he said. ■