During his visit to China in March this year, President Edgar Lungu signed a number of agreements with the Chinese government, China's national news agency Xinhua reported.

Among them was an agreement for the establishment of a livestock vaccine production laboratory.

Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary, David Shamulenge, told Xinhua in an interview that the two countries are still vigorously pursuing the programme of establishing the country's first-ever laboratory for production of livestock vaccines.

He said a team of Chinese experts visited Zambia last month to finalise matters on the establishment of the laboratory and that the government is in the process of finding a piece of land where the laboratory will be constructed.

The official added that a team of experts from Zambia is expected to visit China to check on livestock vaccine production factories in that country.

According to him, the establishment of the laboratory will allow Zambia to start mass production of vaccines for all farm animals.

The deal, he added, will also enable the country build its capacity to prevent livestock diseases.

Zambia is prone to frequent outbreaks of livestock diseases, a situation that always results in negative impact on the socio-economic status of livestock farmers as this usually results in bans on the movement of livestock.