Zambia Congress of Trade Unions ( ZCTU ) President Leonard Hikaumba said here Monday that it is important that Zambia and China dialogue over the matter to maintain the long standing relations.

Hikaumba said ZCTU was extremely concerned about the strained ties between China and Zambia, advising the Chinese businessmen in Zambia to continue investing and doing business in the country.

Michael Sata, one of Zambia's presidential candidates for this month's general elections, recently made irresponsible remarks, claiming Taiwan is "a sovereign state" shortly after his return from Malawi where local media said he had met with Taiwanese businessmen to solicit funds for his presidential campaign.

Sata's remarks have drawn a wave of criticism from all levels of the Zambian society which accused him of "mortgaging the country's future for his own benefit."

Source: Xinhua