"President Kaunda is a great man who profoundly influenced Africa-China relations and world peace. His positive contributions to the bilateral relations and friendship will be deeply remembered by future generations," Winnie Chibesakunda, ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the People's Republic of China, said at a memorial event in Beijing on June 24.

Kenneth David Kaunda, founder of the Republic of Zambia, served as president from 1964 to 1991. He was born on April 28, 1924, and died on June 17, 2021 at the age of 97.

During his meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing in February 1974, Kaunda witnessed the conception of the theory of the Three Worlds, a strategy put forward by Mao that left a deep imprint in world geopolitical patterns. With the assistance of Kaunda and other African leaders, China regained its lawful seat in the United Nations on Oct 25, 1974. He was awarded the China-Africa People's Friendship Award in 2009.

In remembrance of Kaunda's contributions to global diplomacy, especially Sino-Africa relations, the China-Africa Institute held a special session of the Ambassador Lecture attended by Winnie Chibesakunda, ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to China, Li Jie, ambassador of China to Zambia and Yang Youming, former Chinese ambassador to Zambia.

Li Xinfeng, executive president of the China-Africa Institute, recalled Kaunda's achievements in Africa's independence movement and his firm stance of opposing colonialism and apartheid. Kaunda is the soul of China-Africa relations, Li said.

Li Jie, Chinese ambassador to Zambia, said: "Kaunda is a friend of the Chinese people forever. Zambia was the first country in southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. And China fully supported Zambia to build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway when Western countries refused to help. The railway is China's largest foreign aid project and a historical monument of China-Zambia cooperation."

"Kaunda is a household name in China," said Yang Youming, former ambassador of China to Zambia. "In his later years, he still actively participated in China-Zambia activities."

The important contributions made by Chinese and African leaders, including Kaunda, to the cause of China-Africa friendship and cooperation will be always remembered, he added.

More than 90 experts and scholars attended this forum in-person or online.

Wang Jing contributed to this story.