An increasing number of Zambian experts agree that the development of China-Africa ties would bring more benefits and opportunities for both sides.

"The Chinese government has already set out a platform of cooperation between the two sides and I don't think it will change," said Davison Chilipamushi, senior lecturer at the Copperbelt University.

"But what African nations should do is to encourage Chinese investors to come and invest in value addition of local products," he noted, adding that cooperation in science and technology should be enhanced, too.

Zambia's industrial clusters, or the multi-facility economic zones,could be an attraction for Chinese investors, he said.

"It will ensure that our national products could be manufactured here rather than being imported from other countries."

Francis Chigunta, an economist at the University of Zambia, said China, as a fast developing economy, needed to boost its economy through importing raw resources from Africa as well as exporting its finished products, he noted.

"I don't expect any immediate changes in the relations in short-term," Chigunta added.

However, he said, African governments should be proactive and engage China in developing win-win situations.

"African leaders should take advantage of it and cultivate good relations with Chinese new leadership."

"Instead of importing finished products from China, African countries need to refocus on China's investments in technologies," Chigunta explained.

Former Zambian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization Love Mtesa is also among those who expecting a more prosperous and win-win cooperation between China and Zambia.

"We hope China will transfer its technologies to Africa," he said.

Mtesa believed that with joint efforts by leaders of African countries and China, an all-weather friend to the continent, the relationship will reach a much higher level.

"Our desire is that China's relations with both Zambia and Africa at large will not only continue but also get better and better," he said.