LUSAKA, July 2 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. bipartisan congressional delegation was in Zambia from Sunday to Tuesday to assess bilateral programs financed by the U.S. government, according to Times of Zambia on Wednesday.

    According to a statement the U.S. embassy, the group led by Congress Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman visited Chirundu and Livingstone of Southern province.

    "The group was treated to performances by school children at Chirundu High School and learned more about the plight of children affected by AIDS at the community-based program," said the statement.

    "The American people, through President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, have invested 840 million U.S. dollars for initiatives that will improve the health, education and welfare of Zambians," reads the statement.

    The statement said the delegation also visited Chirundu border post to see another program in action and it was able to examine the new entry-exit procedures and observe the benefits of the one-stop border concept.

    The group later visited Livingstone and inspected a U.S. government-sponsored small business enterprise.