China donated to Zambia on Friday vehicles and media equipment worth 800,000 U.S. dollars in a bid to help improve the country's facilities in various media institutions.

The donation, including 20 China-made 4WD vehicles, 20 motor bicycles and media equipment such as computers, printers and cameras, came after the Chinese government provided equipment also worth 800,000 dollars to Zambian media a year ago.

Receiving the vehicles and equipment on behalf of the Zambian media, Information Minister Vernon Mwaanga said the Zambian government is grateful to the Chinese people for commitment to the development of the media industry in Zambia.

The minister said the donations would greatly help the country's media industry embrace the newest technology and ensure that the provision of information is done with the speed that modern media are working at.

He said China has been and remains an "all-weather friend" which has come to Zambia's aid as early as the country was struggling for its independence in 1960s.

The TAZARA constructed by the Chinese to link Zambia and the Dar es Salaam port of Tanzania was a life-line for landlocked Zambia and was a testimony of South-South cooperation, Mwaanga added.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Baodong, who handed over the vehicles and media equipment to the Zambian side, said the donation was again a testimony of the fraternal relations existing between the two countries.

Li said the 42 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations have been a history of mutual support, all- round cooperation and all-weather friendship.

Source: Xinhua