China-Zambia relations have remained at a high level, with mutual trust continuously deepening and fruitful cooperation across various fields, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Thursday.
Lin Jian, the spokesman, announced at a press briefing in Beijing that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Zambia on Nov 19 and 20 at the invitation of the government of the Republic of Zambia.
"Zambia is a comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of China in Africa. Over the past 61 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed bilateral ties under the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and the traditional friendship has grown stronger over time. In recent years, under the care and strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Hakainde Hichilema, the bilateral relations have maintained robust development with solid mutual trust and fruitful cooperation outcomes in various areas," Lin said when asked to comment on the relations between China and Zambia.
"China looks to working with Zambia through the visit to accelerate the implementation of the important common understandings between the two presidents and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, promote common development, have closer communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, and make greater contribution to building an (all-weather) China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era," he said.
China-Zambia relations maintains robust development: spokesman
China-Zambia relations maintains robust development: spokesman
The spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are having a noticeable impact as far afield as Peru, a country highly reliant on energy imports, with the costs of transportation and daily supplies all climbing due to the hike in fuel prices.
Global oil prices have been rising as a result of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli-Iran conflict and concerns over the disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital passageway that typically carries about one-quarter of global seaborne oil trade.
Prices in Peru have also been worsened in the country after a natural gas pipeline explosion in the Cusco Province last month, which caused a significant gas supply shortage.
At present, the prices of gasoline and diesel in Peru have doubled since the start of the conflict in late February, forcing companies to raise the costs of passenger and freight transportation to offset their losses.
Many are concerned that this will have a considerable knock-on effect which could hamper economic activities and ultimately harm the wallets of local residents who are being forced to pay the price.
"What's the worst is that transportation will affect all activities throughout the economy, including the passenger sector, both intra-city and inter-provincial," said Martin Ojeda, the leader of a transportation workers' union.
"Everything has become more expensive. Both daily necessities and transportation are all very expensive," said a local vendor in the capital Lima.
"Previously, a roast chicken cost me about 45 soles (12.8 U.S. dollars), but now it has risen to 60 soles (over 17 U.S. dollars). This doesn't fit my financial situation, so I have to give up a lot of consumption. People like me who live on pensions are greatly affected," said another resident.
Meanwhile, the prices of fertilizers like urea have risen by around 16 percent over the past month as a result of the conflict, with the Middle East being a major global supplier of fertilizers, as these spiraling costs are also affecting food production and animal husbandry in Peru.
Transportation, living costs rise in Peru as conflict rages on in Middle East
