Zambian President Michael Sata will travel to China Thursday on a seven-day state visit that will coincide with the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Economic Conference.
President Sata will lead a Zambian delegation, comprising his Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda; Foreign Affairs Minister Effron Lungu and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Emmanuel Chenda, to the conference.
The Zambian President is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the BFA Conference’s sub-forum, Africa: Rise of an Ancient Continent.
It is expected that the Boao conference, one of Asia’s biggest annual economic meetings, will be attended by delegates who include ministers, media personnel, renowned economists and entrepreneurs and international organisations.
While in China, President Sata will also visit Sanya, a resort town south of Beijing, where he will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jingping.
The two leaders who will hold private talks are expected to sign bilateral agreements on 16 April.
President Sata will also travel to Shenzen, where he will hold talks with regional authorities and visit special economic zones.
The Zambian leader is also scheduled to hold talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequiang and chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng.