LUSAKA — The China-Africa Project Hope on Oct 7 launched its second wave of construction of primary schools in five African countries.

About 20 schools will be constructed in Zambia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and Malawi.

Lu Junqing, chairman of the project said during a launch ceremony held here that the open policy initiated by the Chinese government has resulted in many companies enhanced abilities to take more social responsibilities.

“There is no any 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.

Negotiation works have been completed in the four other countries while in Zambia construction will start after the signing of a memorandum of understanding, he added.

China-Africa Project Hope was launched by World Eminent Chinese Business Association, China Youth Development Foundation and TOJOY Happiness Holding Group.

In Africa, the project started in 2010 with the construction of 23 hope primary schools in Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda which helped over 10,000 children go into schools. The project’s plan is to donate about 1,000 schools across Africa.

The chairman said the major donors to the project have been Chinese companies, adding that the first launch of the project received warm response from benevolent Chinese companies that donated to the project because of 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 added.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming said the project reflects the new trend of Chinese private companies and nongovernmental organizations’ active participation in the development of China-Africa relations.

He said Chinese companies financing the construction of schools in Africa was a testimony that Chinese companies are contributing to the welfare of nations where they operate.

“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,” he added.

The Zambian Ministry of General Education Spokesperson Hillary Chipango expressed the government’s commitment to the project and added that the government was committed to seeing that the project commences as soon as the memorandum of understanding is signed.