STORY: China provides rice aid to help Zambia tackle drought-induced hunger
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 21, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 23, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the offices of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)
2. various of the donation ceremony
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG SHENG, Minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia
5. various of the handover ceremony
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GABRIEL POLLEN, National coordinator of the DMMU
7. various of the handover ceremony

STORYLINE:

China on Friday handed over the first batch of about 460 metric tons as part of nearly 2,000 metric tons of rice to help Zambia tackle the negative effects of the 2023/2024 drought, with three subsequent batches expected to arrive.
   
The handover ceremony, held at the offices of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, was attended by Wang Sheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, and Gabriel Pollen, national coordinator of the DMMU.
   
Wang said in his speech that the successful delivery of the first batch of rice aid underscores China's commitment to the longstanding friendship and all-dimensional cooperation with Zambia.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WANG SHENG, Minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia
"We hope that Zambia will make good use of this batch of food assistance so that it can play a role of improving the lives of the local people at an early date. The successful delivery of the first batch of the rice aid underscores our unwavering commitment to further growing China-Zambia long-standing friendship and all dimensional cooperation."

For his part, Pollen said China's generous donation is a testament to international solidarity and cooperation, with the timely contribution to alleviate the food insecurity of people affected by the drought, particularly in hard-hit districts.
   
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): GABRIEL POLLEN, National coordinator of the DMMU
"We recognize that this donation is not only a gesture of goodwill, but also a demonstration of China's commitment to supporting vulnerable communities around the world. We are proud to partner with the government of China in this endeavor, and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future."
   
Zambia experienced a severe drought during the 2023/2024 rainy season due to extreme weather conditions caused by El Nino. The drought affected crop production in 84 of the country's 116 districts, leaving about 6 million people in need of food assistance.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)