Zambia and China Deepen Tourism and Cultural Cooperation
Zambia and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in tourism and culture following high-level talks between Tourism Minister Honourable Rodney Sikumba and his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Culture and Tourism H.E. Sun Yeli.
The meeting, held on 18 September at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Headquarters in Beijing, built on the outcomes of President Hakainde Hichilema’s 2023 State Visit to China and the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which underscored the value of closer bilateral cooperation in cultural exchange and tourism development.
Both ministers recalled their initial engagement during the Opening Ceremony of the Zambia-China Year of Culture and Tourism in 2024, describing the latest talks as a crucial step towards drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in cultural heritage and tourism promotion.
Discussions focused on enhancing top-level coordination and institutional frameworks to drive cultural diplomacy, expanding artistic exchanges, collaborative marketing campaigns, and ensuring the safety and welfare of tourists travelling between the two countries.
Honourable Sikumba reaffirmed Zambia’s peace, security and stability as the foundation for successful tourism partnerships, highlighting the country’s competitive advantage in attracting international visitors.
The two sides agreed to establish an implementing committee to accelerate the drafting of the MoU. They also emphasised the need to intensify cultural exchanges and joint marketing initiatives to increase Zambia’s visibility in China and vice versa, particularly as 2026 has been designated the Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Looking ahead, the ministers stressed that cooperation should foster mutual respect for cultural heritage, promote sustainable development, and deepen people-to-people ties. The meeting concluded with a shared determination to elevate Zambia–China relations in tourism and culture to new heights.
