Tumbuhnya pengaruh Beijing juga memicu kemarahan di kalangan para pekerja di beberapa negara, terutama di Zambia, di mana perusahaan-perusahaan China di sektor pertambangan, tekstil dan industri konstruksi telah dituduh membayar upah rendah, tidak memperhatikan standar keselamatan dan membawa pekerja-pekerja luar negeri.
During his visit to the southern African country Hu announced that China will invest 800 million dollars (617 million euros) in the development of copper mines in the special economic zone of Chambishi in the north.