On October 7th, 2024, Han Jing, the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Jijia (Beijing) International Medical Technology Co., Ltd. and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of Zambia for the establishment of a vaccine production facility. The event was also graced by the presence of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, along with the Ministers of Health and Trade & Industry, among other government officials and representatives from relevant enterprises of both China and Zambia.

President Hichilema expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the long-standing support provided by the Chinese government in promoting pragmatic cooperation between Zambia and China. He highlighted that cooperation in public health is a significant embodiment of the concept of a shared future for mankind. The construction of this vaccine factory is crucial for Zambia as it will not only enhance the country's public health capabilities, prevent and control infectious diseases, safeguard the health and safety of the people, and truly benefit the nation and its citizens, but also extend benefits to neighboring countries, thereby fostering regional economic and social development .

Ambassador Han noted that the collaboration between the two companies in building the vaccine factory represents a new achievement in Sino-Zambian cooperation within the health sector. Following an invitation from President Xi Jinping, President Hichilema successfully visited China in September and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). During the summit, President Xi announced that China would implement ten major partnership initiatives aimed at advancing modernization together with Africa, including the Health Partnership Initiative. The establishment of the vaccine factory serves as a practical step towards implementing the outcomes of the summit. Ambassador Han urged both sides to expedite the subsequent work following the signing of the MoU.

According to the MoU, Jijia Medical and IDC will jointly construct the first cholera vaccine manufacturing plant in Africa. Initially, the focus will be on producing human cholera vaccines, with plans to expand production to include other human and veterinary vaccines in later stages .