Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who returned home on Saturday morning from the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, said his trip to China was "very successful".

Mwanawasa, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Mundia Sikatana, said upon his arrival that his trip to China was very successful and the assistance from China was practical.

Briefing journalists at the airport, the president said the Chinese government has agreed to help Zambia construct a modern stadium upon a request by the Zambian government.

He said his government had also secured a debt cancellation in connection with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) which was designed and built with the assistance from China in the 1970's.

During the two-day summit held on November 4-5, China announced to double its 2006 aid to Africa by the year 2009.

China has also written off debt in the form of interest-free government loans that matured at the end of 2005 owed by the heavily indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa that have diplomatic relations with China.

Mwanawasa said his job now would be to spearhead what came out of the China trip and called on all players to take responsibility and ensure that all the things are achieved.

Source: Xinhua