A significant capacity-building milestone was marked in Lusaka during a seminar organised by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia. Zambian civil-servants who recently took part in short-term aid-training programmes in China gathered to share their experiences, reflect on lessons learned and discuss how to further strengthen China-Zambia human-resource cooperation. According to Ambassador Han Jing, the embassy, working with the Zambian government, organised 57 training sessions in 2025 that admitted some 400 Zambian participants to study in China this year.
For Ambassador Han, these training programmes serve as “a vital pillar of China-Zambia partnership”, reinforcing not only technical and administrative capacities but also the long-term bond between the two states. He emphasised that the feedback from participants is essential in shaping future programmes in line with Zambia’s national needs.
The seminar in Lusaka illustrates how China–Zambia relations are expanding from large infrastructure projects to people-centred capacity-building. Historically, Chinese engagement in Zambia includes the construction of the TAZARA Railway in the 1970s, built with Chinese support, and more recent initiatives such as the 100 MW Chisamba Solar Power Plant – developed by Chinese firms and commissioned in 2025.
Capacity-building remains a frequent theme in China-Africa cooperation: one study noted that China had trained more than 92,000 African professionals in administration, economy and technical fields from 2000 to 2015.
Attendees of the Lusaka seminar included public-service workers from ministries, research institutes and local governments. During breakout sessions they shared practical stories of how their Chinese-based training influenced new ways of working – from digital management systems to environmental monitoring and public-service reform in Zambia.
Experts note that such training programmes support Zambia’s industrial and economic agenda by enhancing institutional capacity, enabling smoother implementation of infrastructure and investment projects. According to the think-tank IR Africa, Zambia’s strategic alignment with China includes skills development for SMEs, technology adoption and more effective public services.
While training alone does not guarantee transformation, the focus on localised capacity reflects a maturing China-Zambia partnership. Ambassador Han indicated that future cycles will increasingly emphasise joint curriculum design, on-the-ground follow-up and peer networking to ensure Chinese training yields sustained local value.
For Zambia, building human capital is as important as building roads and power stations. And for China, capacity-building solidifies trust, promotes shared growth and strengthens the institutional foundations of cooperation. In Lusaka, the message was clear: skills are the next frontier of the China-Africa journey.
