LUSAKA - Lusaka General Hospital, aided by the Chinese government, was completed and on Monday handed over to Zambia.

Commissioning the opening of the newly constructed hospital, Zambian president Rupiah Banda said his country has over the years enjoyed the all-weather bilateral friendship with China, which is?based on mutual benefits of the two peoples, and the commission of the Lusaka General Hospital will largely improve health delivery?system and bring access to cost effective health care to the country.

He thanked the Chinese government and people for the generosity of helping Zambia in the health sector, and urged all Zambian citizens to guard the premises and facilities jealously so the hospital can serve the people better and longer.

Speaking at the same event, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao said the construction of Lusaka General Hospital is one of?the major contents from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation?(FOCAC) and the health sector is one of the priority areas of the bilateral cooperation between China and Zambia.

He further assured China's continuous support in the health sector to the southern African country, while 11 doctors will be ?deployed at the Lusaka General Hospital and the 16th Chinese Medical Team of 28 doctors is due to departure China for Zambia.

Lusaka General Hospital rests on 1.84 hectare of land along Great East road in the Zambian capital Lusaka, with floor space of about 7,472 square meters.

The hospital is equipped with CT, X-ray, 4 surgery rooms and 159 beds etc., combining medical and emergency together and with daily outpatient capacity of 477 person-times.