LUSAKA -- Zambia's opposition United Party of National Development (UPND) has described China's pledge to invest more in Zambia as a good move for boosting Zambia's economic development, Times of Zambia reported Monday.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said Chinese President Hu Jintao's pledge to invest more and to provide more assistance is good and welcome to enhance the economic growth of Zambia.

In an interview after Hu's speech at the state banquet in his honor in Lusaka on Saturday, Hichilema said that the speech indicated the spirit of Zambia-China relationship of many years.

"President Hu Jintao's speech is very good as it shows the spirit of Zambia-China relations of many years, and we are grateful to the development values which are as a result of the great relationship of the two countries," he said.

He said that Zambia needs to do more to ensure that the country's industry exports more goods to China to take advantage of the large industry in that country.