(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-04 16:40

LUSAKA - Chinese experts said China will kick-start the construction of a modern stadium in Zambia's Ndola, Copperbelt Province as soon as all the necessary investigations have been concluded, Times of Zambia reported on Tuesday.

Zhang Zijun, head of the 13-member Chinese delegation, was quoted as saying that his team felt the pressure to start the job and they had every reason to do the project to the satisfaction of both the Zambian and Chinese governments.

Zhang said he had brought a team of professionals who were strong in architectural design technology and his team's first assignment during its three-week stay in Ndola was to do site investigations by way of studying the geographical position of the proposed site.

Zhang also said officials from the Chinese ministry of commerce were expected in Lusaka this Sunday for a meeting with their Zambian counterparts to discuss the project scale.

During the meeting with Zhang and his delegation, Sport Minister Gabriel Namulambe said the government attached great importance to the project and as such would respond promptly to any concerns that the Chinese experts would raise in the execution of their duties.

"The government will ensure other small things that you may need are dealt with in a shortest possible time. We will be running around to ensure all is in place. We will try to make your work very easy," Namulambe told the Chinese team.

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima said the province was happy with the arrival of the Chinese experts and that the region had been patiently waiting for the project to take off.

He assured the Chinese delegation of tremendous support from the people in the province and that the Copperbelt admired the Chinese working culture.