Will President Lungu Re-Open Zambia To Chinese Companies?

Today, the recently elected Zambian president Edgar Lungu arrived in China for a state visit and to attend the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference. The BFA conference is a premiere forum for leaders in Asia. President Lungu is expected to personally address the conference and to conduct talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Given the importance of mining to Zambia’s economy, and China’s need for raw materials, it is likely that such talks will involve trade of raw materials, especially copper.

As mentioned earlier on Free Fire, Lungu’s predecessor Michael Sata imposed severe labor laws that interfered with the operations of Chinese mining companies. President Lungu’s visit and talks with President Xi could indicate that Lungu intends to repeal Sata’s laws, especially with how President Lungu will be feted in Beijing.

As stated here:

The President (Edgar Lungu) will on Tuesday meet China Nonferrous Metal Mining Corporation (CNMC) top management, the owners of Luanshya Copper Mines (CLM), and tour the exhibition hall at 10:05 hours local time before delivering a speech at the Zambia-China Economic, Trade and Tourism Forum.

The President will later fly to Shenzhen and is on Wednesday expected to visit Shekou Industrial Park on a conducted tour around 09:00 hours local time.

Mr Lungu will later meet managements of Huawei Technologies Company Limited and ZTE Corporation at 10:30 hours and 10:45 hours local time, respectfully before meeting Shenzhen municipality leaders.

It would be safe to assume that President Lungu’s trip to China indicates a reopening of Zambia to Chinese mining interests, as Zambia has recently had economic troubles due to the difficulty of foreign mining companies doing business in the country. This may also be supported with President Lungu meeting with Chinese electronics companies Huawei and ZTE Corporation, as Zambian copper would be a key component in electronics.