President Edgar Lungu Just Straight Up Asked Xi Jinping for Zambia’s Debts to be Cancelled

Zambia's President Edgar Lungu shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping before their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People on September 1, 2018. Nicolas ASFOURI / POOL / AFP

African appeals for Chinese debt relief have until recently been somewhat vague and indirect, at least publicly. Well, that changed when the spokesman for Edgar Lungu released details of Zambian president’s call on Monday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. 

“President Lungu called for debt relief and cancellation in light of reduced revenue due to the negative impact of the pandemic, as well as competing needs for the country, to secure adequate resources to fight the pandemic and to stimulate the economy,” said a statement released by presidential spokesman Isaac Chipampe.

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by Eric Olander

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