On September 3, 2008, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, as a special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, attended late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa’s funeral at the parliament building in the Zambian capital of Lusaka. Leaders of African countries, representatives from governments of other countries, as well as Zambian leaders and personages from all walks of life attended the funeral.

Zambian Acting President Rupiah Banda, Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande and late president Mwanawasa’s wife met respectively with Yang on September 2.

Yang, on behalf of President Hu Jintao, the Chinese government and people, extended profound condolences over the death of President Mwanawasa and expressed sincere sympathy and solicitude to the Zambian government and people as well as the late president's family. Yang said Mwanawasa was an outstanding leader and statesman of Zambia, who, deeply loved by Zambians, had also won the praise of the international community. Mwanawasa’s death is a loss to Zambia and the African continent as a whole, he added.

Yang said while adhering to China-Zambia friendship and the one-China policy, Mwanawasa had been dedicated to promoting cooperation between the two countries in all fields. Under his care and promotion, China-Zambia friendly cooperation has reached a new height, said Yang.

Yang said the Chinese government cherishes the traditional friendship with Zambia and will as always attach importance to developing mutually beneficial cooperation between both sides. He expressed belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Zambia friendship will continue to be consolidated and enhanced.

Banda and Pande thanked for the deep friendship the Chinese government and people have extended to Zambia at this sorrowful moment, which, they said, fully shows the time-tested relations between both sides. Zambia deems China a reliable good friend and partner and thanks for China’s sincere assistance and support over the years for Zambia’s economic and social development and improvement of people’s livelihood. Zambia will continue the unaccomplished cause of President Mwanawasa and carry forward friendly relations with China, said the Zambian side.