A Chinese firm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Zambian company on Monday for the construction of an oral cholera vaccine plant in the African country, which will be the fist one in Africa.
The Chinese company, Jijia International Medical Technology, inked the MoU with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), an investment arm of the Zambian government, at the State House in Zambia's capital Lusaka, which was witnessed by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing.
Jijia International Medical Technology will introduce China's sole cholera vaccine, an innovative oral capsule developed from the research of the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences, and plans to introduce more human and animal vaccines to Zambia, according to the Chinese firm's deputy general manager.
Addressing the signing ceremony, President Hichilema said that the construction of the vaccine plant is very important for Zambia, which can not only improve the country's public health capacity, prevent and control infectious diseases and protect people's health and safety, but also benefit neighboring countries and promote regional economic and social development.
Expressing his gratitude to the Chinese government for its long-term strong support for promoting pragmatic bilateral cooperation, the president noted that the collaboration in the sector of public health is a significant manifestation of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
"We are also sending a signal that Zambia, Africa and the globe, a number of countries, are able to work together with those that have the technology - China. We are able to contrive a partnership for the greater good of humanity. And I like the principle of President Xi Jinping to have a shared future with the global community," said the president.
The president said Zambia was among the high-risk countries, having faced more than 20,000 cholera cases and nearly 700 deaths during the 2023-2024 outbreak. The vaccine plant will serve not only Zambia, but also the broader region and Africa.
China, Zambia to jointly construct Africa’s 1st cholera vaccine plant
China, Zambia to jointly construct Africa’s 1st cholera vaccine plant
The Tengchong Scientists Forum 2025 opened in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Saturday, bringing together hundreds of scientists, university leaders, and entrepreneurs from around the world to discuss frontier research and the integration of science with industry.
More than 120 academicians and over 70 presidents of well-known universities from home and abroad attended the forum, themed "Science and AI Changing the World," discussing the significant value of artificial intelligence (AI) in empowering industries across the board.
On the opening day of the three-day event, the "Tengchong Science Award" was presented to Chinese scientist Pan Jianwei from the University of Science and Technology of China in recognition of his pioneering achievements in quantum communication and quantum computing.
And for the first time, the forum also honored nine outstanding young scientists under the age of 40.
Xu Zhanbo, professor from Xi'an Jiaotong University in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is one of them. His team has developed the world's first hydrogen-powered smart zero-carbon energy system. His breakthrough supports China's goals of advancing green technological innovation.
"I believe that as information technology continues to integrate with the traditional energy sector, helping overcome some of the technological bottlenecks of sensing, calculation, and control in the traditional energy sector, building more zero-carbon parks is entirely feasible," said Xu.
A technology outlook report was released at the event, forecasting 10 major megatrends expected to transform the world by 2049. The report predicts that artificial intelligence will reach human-like capabilities across multiple domains, which was a hot topic at the forum.
"AI will be used quite a lot in the area of advanced materials, in chemistry, in physics. However, we need new technologies. Now, we're back at the drawing desk, trying to create new approaches of the use of AI for materials science," said Konstantin Novoselov, Nobel Laureate in Physics.
Yunnan Province is China's gateway to South and Southeast Asia. The forum also aims to foster international collaboration, particularly with neighboring countries.
"Talent developments, technology transfer, joint research and development, I think these are so founded on the grounds of what we are going to do with whatever effort we have in the country, but also collaboration with ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong countries, particularly in China," said Hul Seingheng, under-secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Global scientists gather in Tengchong to advance innovation-driven development
