By Hai Mingwei, Mu Dong

    LUSAKA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Rupiah Banda commends China's generosity and brotherhood in helping Zambia develop the nation in the past 45 years since the two nations established diplomatic ties.

    Banda gave the remarks when he had an exclusive interview recently with Xinhua.

    Zambia and China are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on Oct. 29.

    "This 45 years have been 45 years of true friendship, true brotherhood, between the people of Zambia and the people of China. Many Chinese people died here to construct the railway from Tanzania to Zambia, many Chinese people have died building bridges and roads here," Banda said.

    Recalling the history of the past 45 years, Banda also realized that while Chinese came to Zambia, many Zambian people have also gone to China to learn Chinese and to learn skills to come back to Zambia and continue the work with construction in Zambia.

    "A lot of money from China has seen its way to Zambia as one of the most directly invested countries in the whole of Africa by China. And I want to thank President Hu Jintao, and thank the people of China, for this wonderful generosity to us, the people of Zambia. Thank you," Banda said.

    In the interview, Banda also praised China's commitment not to withdraw but increase investment in Zambia during the global economic downturn.

    "China has shown that it is a true friend of Zambia because at the height of the economic recession when some investors reduced operations and others pulled out, the Chinese continued operating normally, " Banda said.

    Commenting on the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, featuring in political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation, and culture exchange, Banda said it is a "wonderful cooperation".

    "It's a wonderful cooperation. It's not only on the investment or only on the economy, even politically we consult each other, because we believe our vision, we look at the world in the same way, "Banda said.

    "Of course our expectation is that our relations should grow more and more. More and more Chinese people should come here and I also want to see more and more Zambians going to China to learn various skills and come back here to help us develop this country. So we are very grateful, I want to say to the Chinese people, very grateful for this cooperation between our two countries," Banda said, predicting an even brighter future of the relations between Zambia and China.