LEBRATION: China Nonferrous Metal Mining Co. Ltd. celebrates five years of Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone XINHUA

CNMC places a great deal of emphasis on the welfare of local employees. When other firms retrenched or closed operations during the financial crisis in 2009, CNMC firms promised "three Nots": not to reduce investment, not to cut down on production and not to lay off workers, which has made positive contributions to the local economy and social stability. Tao said CNMC remains committed to pursuing such policy.

Tao said that, during the strike, the company promptly contacted the relevant Zambian government ministries and local authorities, and adopted a series of measures to resolve the situation.

President Sata made clear his support for CNMC as soon as he knew the situation, and also dispatched his mines minister to conduct an on-site investigation. The coalmine subsequently resumed production.

President Sata has stressed that ZCCZ is the best symbol of the "all-weather friendship" between the two countries and encouraged China to increase investment in various sectors in the country in the next five years.

Optimistic

Despite the strike, Tao, who has worked in Zambia for nearly 10 years, said that the company is optimistic about its future development in the country. In fact, CNMC has, for more than a decade, been committed to building harmonious labor relations, successfully dealing with the annual labor negotiations many times. 

"We believe this is only an isolated incident, and will not affect China's investment into Zambia, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries," said Tao. CNMC planned to make the significant investment of about $2 billion in Zambia during the 2011-15 period, the equivalent of what it has spent there over the past 12 years.

The investment is not just for production and expanded operations. It will also be used for infrastructure construction and corporate responsibility initiatives, such as building a 3,000-unit housing complex to provide better living conditions for local workers.

So far, the company has put about $130 million into infrastructure construction and has given as much as $10 million in donations and sponsorships in Zambia. It is now the largest Chinese investor in the nation.

CNMC will develop overseas nonferrous metal bases in central and southern Africa over the next five years. "With our advanced smelting technology, it has helped improve Zambia's copper industry chain and promoted the upgrading of its industrial structure so as to enhance the added value of the country's copper products," he added.