On July 13, Daniel Mvula Shimunza, Consul General of Zambia in Guangzhou, visited Hainan and met with officials from the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province. Wang Lei, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, held discussions with Shimunza and his delegation, exchanging views on deepening cooperation between Hainan and Zambia across various sectors.

Wang welcomed Shimunza back to Hainan, noting this was his second visit to the province within a year. He emphasized that the growing friendship between China and Zambia offers a strong foundation for collaboration between Hainan and Zambia. Since the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), policy benefits have expanded, making cross-border travel more accessible.

After sharing the latest updates on the Hainan FTP and explaining the combined advantages of the FTP’s tariff exemption policy on value-added processing and China’s zero-tariff policy for Africa, Wang stated that Hainan and Zambia have laid a solid foundation for cooperation in trade, agriculture, and education.

He also expressed that the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province stands ready to work with the Consulate General of Zambia in Guangzhou to enhance communication and explore further cooperation in tropical agriculture, tropical disease prevention and control, education, new energy, trade, and investment. The office will facilitate connections among the Consulate General, Hainan’s commerce authorities, and local enterprises to promote mutual investment and trade.

Shimunza expressed gratitude to the staff at the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province for their warm welcome and thoughtful arrangements. He emphasized that Zambia values its friendship with China and appreciates China’s support for its development. He said Zambia views the Hainan FTP as an important partner and looks forward to sharing its development opportunities. The Consulate General will continue to act as a bridge, leveraging the FTP’s strengths to foster cooperation in mining, agriculture, tourism, clean energy, and other fields. He also invited Hainan enterprises to invest in Zambia and expressed hope for stronger economic and trade cooperation that will be mutually beneficial.

During the visit, Shimunza and his delegation also met with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Hainan Provincial Committee and local enterprises.

Zambia was the first Southern African nation to establish diplomatic ties with China. In 2023, the relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Rich in natural resources, Zambia is renowned for its vast copper reserves of 20 million tonnes, making up about 2.8% of global reserves, earning it the nickname “the Land of Copper.” Mining plays a key role in the country’s economy. Zambia is also home to the famous Victoria Falls and 20 national parks.

Starting May 1, 2026, China initiated a two-year tariff exemption policy on all products from its 53 African diplomatic partners, including Zambia.