Chinese President Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for visiting Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in Beijing, state-run media CCTV reported on Friday. The heavily indebted southern African nation is working to shore up ties with its leading creditor, China, which holds huge stakes in Zambia's mining sector. Beijing had launched a major infrastructure drive including new airports, roads and energy projects before Hichilema stepped into office in 2021. Hichilema's state visit to China, which began on Sunday, ends Saturday, Sept. 16.