STORY: Major highway upgrading project launched in Zambia
SHOOTING TIME: May 21, 2024
DATELINE: May 23, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:42
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the ground-breaking ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE (English): WANG SHENG, Minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia
3. various of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema

STORYLINE:

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.

SOUNDBITE (English): WANG SHENG, Minister counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia
"Transport infrastructure is crucial to the economic and social development of a country. The strategic importance of the Lusaka-Ndola road goes beyond physical infrastructure. This road is the veritable economic hatchery of Zambia."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)