STORY: Reception marks 40th anniversary of China-Zambia military medical cooperation
SHOOTING TIME: March 5, 2024
DATELINE: March 7, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:25
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the reception
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG SHENG, Charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AMBROSE LUFUMA, Zambian defense minister

STORYLINE:

A reception to mark the 40th anniversary of China-Zambia military medical cooperation was held Tuesday in Lusaka, the Zambian capital.
   
The event also saw the bidding of farewell to the 26th Chinese Military Medical Team, who were awarded medals of international cooperation, and the welcoming of the 27th medical team.
   
Wang Sheng, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy, and Ambrose Lufuma, the Zambian minister of defense, as well as officials from the Maina Soko Medical Center, attended the event.
   
In his remarks, Wang said in that the past 40 years, Chinese medical teams have traveled thousands of miles to help save the lives of people in Zambia and deepen the friendship between the two countries.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG SHENG, Charge d'affaires at the Chinese Embassy
"Over the past 40 years, with joint efforts made by China and Zambia, the medical cooperation between the two militaries achieved fruitful results. Groups of Chinese military doctors have traveled tens of thousands of miles to Zambia. They have fully carried forward the spirit of the Chinese medical team, that is not afraid of hardships, willing to contribute, save lives, heal the wounded and have boundless love."
   
Wang noted that the year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding that the embassy will uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendly cooperation, move forward with people from all walks of life in Zambia and transform the profound traditional cooperation between the two countries into an inexhaustible driving force for win-win cooperation in the new era.
   
Senior Colonel Jiang Lei, the defense attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said the China-Zambia military medical cooperation has achieved fruitful results and has become an important symbol of the friendship between the two countries over the past 40 years.
   
He said the Chinese military doctors will keep their mission firmly in mind, perform their duties and promote new progress in bilateral cooperation.
   
Lufuma, the Zambian defense minister, said Lusaka values the Chinese medical teams' contributions and their knowledge transfer to the country.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AMBROSE LUFUMA, Zambian defense minister
"The Chinese military medical teams continue to make great contributions to healthcare services the Ministry of Defense provides to Zambian people. Their medical skills have earned the trust and respect of the government and the Zambian people. That is why they have continued to receive high accolades from people of all walks of life in Zambia. We appreciate the level of cooperation in the health sector between our two countries and we intend to solidify and further in the areas of medical equipment, technology and training."

Since 1984, China has sent 27 military medical teams, totaling 332 members, to Zambia.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)