LUSAKA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Wednesday that the country has no distress with its loans it has obtained from China.
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the government will not be distracted by reports from people trying to create a fiction with China as the cooperation has brought mutual benefit.
"There is a smear campaign both locally and internationally by people trying to create a wedge in our relation with China," she told reporters during a press briefing.
According to her, there were a lot of unsubstantiated stories circulating in the media about the country's debt which critics claim has reached distress levels, adding that the finance minister will soon issue a comprehensive statement on the debts the country has with China and other creditors.
"I want to clearly state that there is no debt distress with Chinese loans. All the stories circulating are just malicious and we will not be distracted," she added.
The Zambian government spokesperson said people criticizing China do not know what China's assistance has done to the southern African nation, adding that the loans have been transforming people's lives.
She singled out the launch of the village television project which she said has given an opportunity to people in remote parts of the country to watch television as well as the massive infrastructure projects such as roads which have opened areas which were impassable.
Zambia, she said, will not be distracted by what people were saying about its relation with China as the fruits of the relationship were visible for all to see.
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