Experts emphasize localized industrialization, railway revitalization in China-Zambia cooperation

Experts from China and Zambia emphasized the importance of localizing industrialization in the African country and expanding the continent's transport network through the revitalization of the TAZARA railway, because these factors are essential for achieving modernization in Zambia and other African countries.

China and Zambia held a ceremony on Tuesday to mark 60 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. The two countries are cooperating in various fields for decades.

Regarding how to promote the African country's modernization, Ye Hailin, dean of the China-Africa Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that localizing industrialization in Zambia is crucial. By focusing on "small and beautiful" livelihood projects that address the real needs of Zambian and African people, genuine modernization can be achieved and people's life improved.

"In my personal opinion, the most important thing for China-Zambia cooperation is that, in the industrialization process, we should encourage industrialization to be localized in Zambia to produce more products that match the demands of Zambian and African people. Also, I would like to re-emphasize one of the key words that President Xi [said when he] made a speech during the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit: we will encourage a thousand 'small and beautiful' projects to match the demands of the African people. This means that all modernization process, including industrialization process, should match the demands of the people. Not only in the general aspect, talking about how much we already match for trade volume or something like this. We should go into people's daily life. That's the point," said Ye.

Infrastructure construction has always played a major role in China-Africa industrial cooperation. In September, China, Zambia, and Tanzania signed an agreement to revitalize the decades-old China-aided TAZARA railway. Zambian international relations expert Njunga Mulikita emphasized the significance of this project, noting that the improved transport routes will enhance transportation in Eastern and Southern Africa and drive regional development.

"It's a very auspicious development. It's part of the Belt and Road Initiative. It also will be a catalyst for regional integration in Eastern and Southern Africa. It will enhance regional prosperity, African unity, so forth and so on. I think it was just last week that the Minister of Transport announced that Zambia, Burundi, and other countries were joining the Central Corridor facility. That's TAZARA, basically. This plan is very good. It's very auspicious for the region. Also, it is consistent with the African Continental Free Trade Area, that is all about linking the continent through transport corridors and transport routes, so forth and so on," said Mulikita.

Experts emphasize localized industrialization, railway revitalization in China-Zambia cooperation

Wine companies in Italy are anxious as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," imposing a 20-percent tariff on the European Union.

Giulia D'Alema, head of a family-owned wine business in Italy's Umbria region, is facing significant uncertainty for the upcoming wine sales season following the announcement of tariffs on EU products, including wine.

Her family's 7.5-hectare vineyard has completed its major annual tasks — trimming, tying, and weeding — to ensure healthy grape growth and a fruitful harvest.

However, despite these preparations, D'Alema is troubled by the looming threat of new tariffs on Italian wines exported to the United States.

The United States is a key market for Italian wines, with exports valued at approximately 2 billion euros in 2024 alone.

Yet, the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump has put this vital export market at risk.

"If tariffs are imposed, U.S. importers won't be able to import my wine because selling my rose will no longer be profitable for them. I've already increased production specifically for this (U.S.) market, so now I have to find other ways to absorb this surplus," said D'Alema.

In the wine-producing region of Umbria in central Italy, it is the small and medium-sized wineries that are hit the hardest. Large enterprises can mitigate risks by adjusting their market strategies, but small family-owned businesses often rely on a single market. The imposition of tariffs creates a great deal of uncertainty for their operations.

In 2024, Italy's bottled wine exports to the United States reached 1.94 billion euros. According to calculations by the largest agricultural association in Italy, the Italian Confederation of Farmers (CIA), if tariffs prevent Italian wines from being exported to the United States, Italian wineries could face daily losses of 6 million U.S. dollars.

Trump's 20 pct tariffs on EU raise concerns for Italian wine export