By Monica Kayombo,Zambia, Lusaka,
ZAMBIA and China have pledged to deepen cooperation in technology, tourism, energy, mining, trade and other sectors, as the two countries used a spectacular drone light show to showcase their friendship and growing people-to-people ties.
The commitment was made at the 2026 Thousand Miles on the Silk Road : Colours of Africa Transnational Drone Light Show, held at the Lusaka Showgrounds last Saturday.
The event, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, formed part of activities commemorating the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, bringing together government officials, diplomats, members of the Chinese community, civil society, the media and other invited guests.
The Lusaka sky was transformed into a giant canvas as 500 drones moved in carefully coordinated formations, creating images of Zambia and China, cultural symbols, wildlife and milestones reflecting the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Han Jing said the spectacle represented much more than technological entertainment, describing it as an illustration of how innovation could be harnessed to promote development, cultural diplomacy and closer cooperation.
“Technology is meant to empower progress and improve people’s livelihood, a principle brought vividly to life by the drone light show today,” Ambassador Han said.
He said drones already had practical applications beyond entertainment, including agricultural monitoring, emergency disaster response, transportation of medical supplies to remote communities and ecological conservation.
Ambassador Han said China and Zambia would continue to deepen practical cooperation in science and technology and leverage innovation to support Zambia’s modernisation drive.
He said Zambia’s relationship with China had continued to develop through practical cooperation in several sectors, including mining, energy and commodity trade.
Ambassador Han said Zambia’s adoption of renminbi settlement for some mineral-sector tax payments represented an important milestone in diversifying bilateral financial cooperation.
He also pointed to the revitalisation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) as another major symbol of the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
“The revitalisation of the iconic Tanzanian railway, as officially broken ground, is breathing new vitality into this fantastic symbol of China-Zambia solidarity,” he said.
Ambassador Han said every project delivered and every agreement reached between the two countries was testimony to mutual trust and what he described as a genuine win-win partnership.
He said the bilateral relationship had also benefited from high-level engagement between President Hakainde Hichilema and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Ambassador said during President Hichilema’s first five-year term, the two leaders had held discussions and exchanged views on economic, trade and national development priorities.
He congratulated President Hichilema on his re-election and expressed confidence that the longstanding friendship between Zambia and China would continue to produce tangible benefits for the two peoples.
He said cultural exchanges remained another important component of the relationship, particularly during the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
He cited several cultural initiatives that had taken place during the year, including Chinese cultural showcases, Spring Festival celebrations, Chinese language activities, the TAZARA railway field painting exhibition, the Chinese Bridge Competition and student exchange experiences.
He further disclosed that the China-Zambia Film Festival would be held in October as part of the year’s activities.
The festival, he said, would provide Zambian audiences with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of modern China through film and other creative expressions.
Ambassador Han said such cultural exchanges were particularly important for young people because they helped build mutual understanding and create a new generation capable of carrying forward the friendship between Zambia and China.
“Young people from China and Zambia build greater mutual understanding through ongoing interaction, growing into the inheritors and advocates of our long-standing friendship,” he said.
Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa, who officially opened the event, said Zambia and China had enjoyed warm bilateral relations for more than six decades.
He said the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between the two countries provided a strong framework for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
Mr Kangwa said the TAZARA railway remained one of the most enduring symbols of the friendship between Zambia and China.
“It remains a powerful reminder of what our nations can achieve when friendship is translated into practical cooperation,” he said.
He said it was therefore, appropriate that the shared history and milestones of cooperation between the two countries should form part of the visual story presented through the drone show.
Mr Kangwa said the event demonstrated that technology could become an important platform for cultural diplomacy and cooperation.
He commended the Chinese companies involved in organising the show, as well as the Chinese Embassy, Ministry of Tourism, Zambia Chinese Association and other cooperating partners for making the event possible.
He said while the lights illuminating the Lusaka sky would eventually disappear, the friendship represented by the display should continue to grow.
“The lights that illuminate our sky tonight will eventually fade, but the friendships they represent must continue to shine,” Mr Kangwa said.
He said the event should not only be remembered for what people witnessed in the sky but also for the opportunities and partnerships it could inspire on the ground.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga said the event demonstrated the growing intersection between tourism, culture, technology and creative expression.
Mr Muhanga said the innovative use of technology provided Zambia with an opportunity to showcase its tourism assets and cultural heritage to a wider audience while demonstrating the country’s capacity to host international events.
“The use of tourism on this occasion is particularly significant because it brings together tourism, culture, technology and creative expression in a manner that demonstrates how innovation can complement destination promotion and enrich visitor experience,” he said.
He said the drone images depicting iconic Zambian and Chinese landmarks, cultural symbols and milestones in bilateral cooperation captured the essence of tourism because tourism was ultimately about people, places, heritage and the stories that connect them.
Mr Muhanga said the way people discovered and experienced destinations was changing, with technology and creativity creating new opportunities for countries to market their tourism attractions.
“Zambia, as we are aware, is endowed with exceptional natural and cultural tourism assets, and initiatives such as the one today provide an opportunity to enhance our nation’s visibility while demonstrating Zambia’s capacity to host innovative international events and cultural experiences,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Tourism would continue working with partners to position Zambia as a competitive tourism and events destination.
Mr Muhanga also disclosed that the Ministry of Tourism contributed about K150,000 towards the event.
He said the ministry did not only work with the Chinese Embassy on logistics but also helped monitor the national contribution to ensure that the event could reach a wider audience.
He said arrangements had been made for the show to be filmed and aired on ZNBC, allowing people who were unable to attend the Lusaka Showgrounds to experience the spectacle.
The event was not solely about technology.
Before the drones took to the sky, guests were treated to a colourful programme celebrating both Zambian and Chinese culture.
The programme included drumming and acrobatic performances by Barefeet Theatre, a Zambian dance presentation by Banthu Ndiwo, and a Chinese Kung Fu performance by the Shaolin Temple.
Zambia Chinese Association president Zhang Jian, in his welcoming remarks, said the event was a demonstration of the strength of the relationship between Zambia and China.
The cultural performances provided the backdrop for the main attraction, as hundreds of drones subsequently illuminated the Lusaka night sky in synchronised formations.
The display depicted the maps of Zambia and China, cultural scenes, wildlife and symbols of the two countries’ cooperation, turning the sky above the Showgrounds into a moving celebration of their shared history and aspirations.
The event therefore brought together diplomacy, tourism, culture and technology in one spectacle, reflecting the changing nature of Zambia-China relations.
For Ambassador Han, the future of the partnership lies not only in major infrastructure and economic projects but also in using science, technology, culture and exchanges between ordinary people to build stronger bonds.
And for Zambia, the event offered another opportunity to present the country as a destination capable of combining its rich cultural and natural heritage with modern technology and international events.
As the final images disappeared from the sky, the central message from both sides remained clear: the lights may fade, but the relationship they symbolised is expected to continue shining for generations to come.
