Lu Junqing, chairman of the China-Africa Project Hope, hands books to Hope School students in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 30, 2015. (Photo : CRIENGLISH.com)
China-Africa Project Hope has launched its second wave of construction of primary schools in five African countries, the state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
Around 20 schools are set to be built in Zambia, Ethopia, Uganda, Mozambique and Malawi, the report said.
Project chairman Lu Junqing said during the launch ceremony in Zambia's capital of Lusaka that China's open policy initiative has led to many Chinese companies taking more social responsibilities in the region.
"There is no any [sic] condition attached to the project. This is a kind of pure love. We did so in the past, do it now, and will continue to do so forever," he said.
Negotiations have already been completed in four other countries, while construction in Zambia will begin once the memorandum of understanding has been signed, Lu added.
Lu has also personally donated $16 million to the initiative, while his daughter Lu Xingyu, who serves as the Project Hope's secretary-general, donated $160,000 which she claimed was all her savings.
Established in 2010, China-Africa Project Hope was founded by the World Eminent Chinese Business Association, China Youth Development Foundation, and TOJOY Happiness Holding Group, with the goal of donating 1,000 schools across the African continent.
Lu said that the project's major donors have been Chinese companies, noting the initial launch of Project Hope was well-received due to the long friendship between China and Africa.
"At the same time, through the project, we wish people all over the world can see the growth of China will not threaten anyone and can bring more happiness to the world," he said.
China's Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming said that the project highlights the new trend of private Chinese firms and non-governmental organizations actively participating in the development of China-Africa relations.
"The success of the project could not have been possible without the generosity of Chinese entrepreneurs and we are happy that the project is now in Africa," he said.
"Now China-Africa Project Hope enters Zambia for the first time, it reflects not only the healthy and stable development of China-Zambia relations and the continuous development of pragmatic cooperation in the field of education in recent years, but also the good momentum of development of China-Zambia people-to-people friendship," Yang added.
Hillary Chipango, a spokesperson of Zambia's Ministry of General Education, reaffirmed the Zambian government's commitment to the project and will see to it that the construction commences once the memorandum has been signed.
