China and Zambia have signed several bilateral or multilateral trade agreements and agreements on economic and technical cooperation. Since 1967, China has undertaken 35 aid-projects such as Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), roads, maize flour factory, textile mill, well and water supply, etc. Of the projects, 33 have been completed. Two projects are still underway. They are the renewal of equipments of the Mulungushi Textile Mill, and the renovation of the main building of the government office complex.

New forms of cooperation of mutual benefit between China and Zambia have been explored in recent years, which have achieved substantial progress. In 1996, the two sides started the joint management of Mulungushi Textile Mill, which was built with Chinese aid in 1982, thus increasing its profits considerably. In 1997, the Bank of China opened its Zambian branch, which was the first branch opened by the bank in the sub-Saharan region. In the same year, the China Investment and Trade Developing Center was set up in Zambia. In 1998, China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Construction Co. (Group) bought the Zambian Chambishi Copper Mine for US$ 20 million. The Mine started operation in July 2000. The Investment and Trade Developing Center opened business in June 2001. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2002 reached US$ 83.247 million, of which Chinese export reached US$ 46.056 million, and import US$ 37.191 million.

Since 1978, China has admitted in all 180 Zambian students. 57 Zambian students were studying in China in 2002. China began to send teachers to work in the University of Zambia in 1992 and 3 Chinese teachers are currently working there. Since 1978, China has sent medical teams to Zambia as a form of aid. Currently, there are 31 Chinese medical personnel working in Zambia.

The city of Luzhou of Southwest China 's Sichuan Province has established sister-city relations with the city of Kabwe of Zambia.