On 10th May, the General Meeting and the Inauguration Ceremony of the Second Council of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (CCCZ) was held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Lusaka. Mr. Li Tie, President of the First Council of CCCZ, was re-elected as President of the Second Council of CCCZ. Hon. Chipoka Mulenga MP, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, H.E. Han Jing, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Zambia, Mr. Jin Jun, Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, Dr. Hapenga M. Kabeta, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, Mrs. Lilian Bwalya, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mr. Peter Mumba, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Graphel Musamba, Inspector General of Police in Zambia, Mr. Enos Chibombe, Deputy Director General of Zambia Department of Immigration, Ms. Kusobile Kamwambi, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) in Zambia, Mr. Ashu Sagar, Vice President, Industry & Manufacturing at Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and President of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM), representatives of Chinese business associations and Chinese-invested enterprises in Zambia, CCCZ members, media representatives, etc., totaling more than 200 people were present. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga MP and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, H.E. Han Jing delivered important speeches at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Second Council.
Minister Mulenga delivered an enthusiastic speech. He said "I start to be very proud as Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, who is also a platform of this Chamber. We come through three years of building resilience partnership, with the leadership Mr. Li has demonstrated his commitment to making sure every Chinese enterprise that has setup in this country is not for 'Chinese enterprises' but 'our enterprises'. We are very proud of what you are doing because pull together we are building a beautiful economy where everyone would live in happiness!”. He said Mr. Li’s commitment has became a commitment by the government he represented, and it was also a commitment they made to themselves. “Our government, our people are proud of the value-added investment that we’ve received from China in the past few years.” He praised Chinese enterprises for investing in value addition to the country's raw materials. He thanked the Chamber president Mr. Li and his team for their continuing support to Zambian government, for how they helped engage Zambian government by different platforms, and for how they do business together as friends and partners. He stated that CCCZ is a hub to where business should begin, they are bringing everyone on board to interact with Zambian government, and we have to invest in each other’s economics, in each other’s communities. On behalf of his colleagues, he fully committed himself to make sure this business community to grow from strength to strength.
Minister Mulenga said that as a saying goes “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” During the cholera outbreak, the Zambian government and people received a lot of support from the Chamber and the Chinese government. Minister Chipoka Mulenga stated that China is a vital trade and investment partner for Zambia, with bilateral cooperation delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both nations. He expressed gratitude to CCCZ for its active contributions to Zambia’s socio-economic development. The Zambian government will continue to improve the business environment and welcomes more Chinese businesses to invest in Zambia, advancing the implementation of the ten partnership actions announced in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit to yield greater outcomes in Zambia.
Ambassador Han Jing noted the year 2025 marks the beginning of a new 60-year chapter in China-Zambia relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral ties between China and Zambia have reached an unprecedented high in history. Congratulations on the inauguration of the new council of CCCZ. It is hoped that CCCZ will continue to enhance its organizational functions, serve as a vital bridge to unite and guide all chamber members in Zambia with full compliance and sustained innovation, thereby contributing to the advancement of the China-Zambia comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.
Mr. Li Tie was re-elected as the President of the Second Council of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia. In his inaugural address, Mr. Li first expressed that he would continue fulfilling the mission of leading the chamber with gratitude and responsibility. Then he introduced that after three years of development, CCCZ has grown into a large-scale business association with 210 registered members, spanning diverse sectors including mining, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, logistics, commerce and trade, construction, real estate, finance, education, tourism, and legal services.
Mr. Li also emphasized that as the re-elected president of the chamber, he is well aware that the vitality of the chamber lies in serving members, gathering strength, and seeking common development. He committed to lead the chamber to make efforts in five aspects: deepening service functions and building a solid foundation for member development; focusing on Zambia's national strategies and promoting cooperation in critical sectors; building diversified platforms to activate the China-Zambia cooperation ecosystem; embracing change and innovating cooperation models; and inheriting friendship and jointly building a community with a shared future, so as to implement its purpose and respond to the times.
Mr. Ashu Sagar, Vice President, Industry & Manufacturing at Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and President of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM), expressed his gratitude to the Zambian government for creating a favorable business environment for the vigorous development of enterprises. Zambia's stable political environment and economic policies are undoubtedly the primary conditions for attracting foreign investment. Mr. Ashu Sagar congratulated the chamber President, Mr. Li Tie on his re-election. He said that Mr. Li has played a key role in strengthening ties between Zambian and Chinese businesses, promoting investments and advocating CCCZ members to become a community of interests. Mr. Li Tie's re-election will further strengthen the Chamber's initiatives, consolidate the Chamber's position as a key player in the Zambian economic landscape, and strengthen the strong partnership between Zambia and China.
At the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Han Jing, Minister Mulenga and CCCZ President Li Tie jointly presented certificates to the newly elected Executive Presidents, Vice Presidents, President of the Northern Branch, Secretary-General, Chief Supervisor, Deputy Chief Supervisor, Supervisors, and the Advisory Committee of the Chamber.
Chief Supervisor of the First Council, Mr. Zhang Jun presided over the General Meeting of the Chamber, which voted to elect the Second Council and the Second Supervisory Board. Subsequently, at the first meeting of the Second Council, voting took place to elect the President, Executive Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Executive Directors of the Second Council.
