LUSAKA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's information minister said Friday the southern African nation was happy with the support the Chinese government has continued to render to its development programs and projects.
Dora Siliya, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said the support in sectors such as infrastructure development, health and the economy in general was a clear indication of the warm bilateral relations that have existed between the two countries for a long time.
The Zambian minister, who is in Beijing for the 4th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation, was speaking when she called on the Minister of State Administration of Radio and Television, Nie Chenxi, according to a statement released by her ministry.
According to her, China has remained one of Zambia's reliable development partners and expressed happiness that the support has been extended to the media industry.
She cited China's support to Zambia's digital migration project as one of the many examples of support to the media industry, adding that the support to the media resonated with the government's desire to ensure that many citizens have access to information which was a prerequisite for sustainable national development.
The Zambian minister called on the Chinese government to consider supporting the country's state broadcaster and its official news agency with equipment and human resource to enable the two institutions to meet the demands that will come with digital migration.
She said the two institutions were key strategic public institutions on which citizens depend for information critical to national development.
"We will need your support in terms of training for our staff to bring them to speed with the new digital environment they are going into. They will also require support in terms of equipment and transport. We will appreciate if this support is given," she said.
On his part, the Chinese official said his government will endeavor to find areas of cooperation with Zambia to further cement the already existing cordial relations.
