[Explanation] At 14:30 on June 17, local time, Kenneth Kaunda, the founding president of Zambia, died of illness in the capital Lusaka at the age of 97.

  [Explanation] Kaunda is known as the "Father of the Nation" of Zambia and is one of the leaders of the African National Liberation Movement.

He led the people of Zambia to resist British colonial rule and won the country's independence in 1964.

On October 29 of the same year, Zambia became the first country in southern Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

  [Explanation] On February 22, 1974, when Chairman Mao Zedong met with President Kaunda of Zambia, he proposed the theory of the division of the three worlds and called for unity to oppose hegemonism.

  [Explanation] Chairman Mao Zedong said: "The United States and the Soviet Union are the first world. The centrists, Japan, Europe, and Canada, are the second world. We are the third world."

  [Explanation] This theory inspired the people of developing countries in their struggle for national liberation.

  [Explanation] In the 1960s, many newly independent African countries faced daunting development challenges.

Tanzania and Zambia want to build a railway linking the two countries to break the racist blockade economically and politically.

The leaders of the two countries made a request for assistance in the construction of the railway to relevant countries in the world, but the request was rejected.

  [Explanation] In February 1965, the Chinese government agreed to help build a railway from Tanzania to Zambia.

The then President Kaunda once said that in such a difficult situation, it was China who helped us generously.

  [Explanation] Kaunda has long been committed to the unity of Africa and the long-term development of Zambia-China relations.

China helped Zambia build roads and bridges, developed agriculture, and sent a large number of doctors... Kaunda once recalled that we are brothers, sisters, and loyal all-weather friends.

  Wang Jiayi reports from Beijing

Editor in charge: [Li Yuxin]