Zambia: Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to the Republic of Zambia at State House in Lusaka.
The envoys include His Excellency Lt. Gen. Mathew Edward Mkingule, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania; His Excellency Mr Takeuchi Kazuyuki, Ambassador of Japan; His Excellency Dr Enrico De Agostini, Ambassador of Italy; His Excellency Mr Kyle Michael Nunas, High Commissioner of Canada, His Excellency Mr Murad Baseer, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; His Excellency Mr Tobias Elling Rehfeld, Ambassador of Denmark; His Excellency Mr Ante Cicvaric, Ambassador of Croatia, and His Excellency Mr Stephane Rey, Ambassador of Switzerland.
During the ceremony, President Hichilema acknowledged the bilateral relations that Zambia shares with other countries based on partnerships and shared common interests.
The President stated that Zambia remained focused on engaging with partners through economic diplomacy to ensure prosperity and human advancement. The President highlighted the limited resource envelope but underscored unwavering commitment to developing the country through the creation of social and economic opportunities aimed at improving the well-being of Zambians.
To this end, the President noted that Zambia would continue to foster its bilateral relations through engagement in the quest for common solutions to challenges, the creation of opportunities for joint ventures for mutual benefit, and sharing best practices to ensure integral development.
The President emphasized the need for the advanced economies to share technology and ensure that Africa had access to fairly priced capital as opposed to the current scenario where Africa remained the only continent in the world that pays more for capital.
The President also noted the centrality of peace and stability as a prerequisite for social and economic development. The President stated that Zambia remains a proponent of peace and would continue to work with other countries to advance this cause to keep the world safe, stable and peaceful.
The President noted that instability anywhere is instability everywhere, adding that global economic development is impossible amidst the instability.
The President pledged to support the envoys during their tour of duty and reaffirmed Zambia’s continued commitment to work together with partners innovatively and efficiently.