Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa praised Tuesday the establishment of the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, which he said would provide more job opportunities and help improve the living standard of his countrymen.

Mwanawasa made the comments when meeting a Chinese delegation led by Luo Tao, president of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Corporation.

He expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing construction of the trade zone by Luo's company.

"Chinese investments are welcomed here. We know what is good for us, and we are satisfied with cooperation with China," said the president.

He hoped such cooperation could continue and more investment from China would pour in to help boost the Zambian people's livelihood.

Luo said the trade zone, with a total investment of over 800 million U.S. dollars, would create 6,000 jobs for the local people.

He said construction work was progressing smoothly since Chinese President Hu Jintao and Mwanawasa launched the project jointly in February when Hu came for a visit.

The Chinese side will strive to finish building the trade zone as quickly as possible, he added.

Luo believed the zone, the first of its kind built by Chinese in Africa, would showcase the mutual beneficial cooperation between China and Zambia.