Zambia is courting investment from China, Africa's biggest emerging market partner, overlooking concerns from the West over poor labor and human rights records and welcoming the Chinese with open arms.

The impoverished southern African country is the continent's top copper producer and will soon be exploring for oil near its border with Angola. To woo China, Zambia has offered tax incentives and other sweeteners, including express work permits for Chinese laborers.

Chinese companies have, for their part, promised to invest $900 million in manufacturing copper products in an economic zone built for them, where they receive tax waivers on dividends and customs duty on capital equipment.

Analysts say China is making inroads into Zambia and other African countries because of its loans and grants which come without the stringent conditions attached to funds from the West, and its investments are seen as a political talking point.

Acting President Rupiah Banda has backed China's involvement in Zambia's economy and has made much political capital out of a recent u-turn on China by the main opposition leader, Michael Sata, his principal rival in the October 30 presidential election.

"Even those that have been against certain investors now say they want them in," said Banda at a recent campaign stop.