The Zambian government will continue to support the "one China" principle, a minister said Wednesday in Lusaka.

While addressing at the reception to mark the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zambian Labor and Social Security Minister Patrick Kafumukache said China has given Zambia a lot of assistance which is a clear testimony of the "all-weather" friendship that exists between the two countries.

"We are convinced that China means well and her assistance is genuine and without any conditionalities," he said.

He said the Zambian government also supports the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence initiated by China and several other countries.

Kafumukache said the Zambian government recognize and is encouraged by China's achievements in her endeavor to improve the people's living standard.

"In fact, China's achievements have made her a beacon of hope and source of inspiration among many developing countries," he added.

Kafumukache said Zambia looks forward to increasing cooperation with China, especially in the agricultural, mining and tourism sectors.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Hu Shouqin said at the same function that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia 40 years ago, "the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries has been developing in depth and the friendship between our two peoples has been growing with each passing day."

Hu said in recent years, economic, trade and technical cooperation has become the new impetus for China-Zambia cooperation.

According to statistics, during the first seven months of this year, the volume of mutual trade between Zambia and China surpassed 100 million US dollars, reaching a new record high.