Govt cherishes relations with Russia

Government says it cherishes the continued strong multilateral and bilateral relationship that has existed between Zambia and the Russian Federation for the past 50 years.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Steven Kampyongo, says since the diplomatic ties of the two countries in 1964, there has been a remarkable achievement in key sectors of the economy such as education, health, manufacturing and tourism among others.

Mr Kampyongo, however, said as the two countries mark 50 years of bilateral relations, Zambia remains committed to assess the areas of the cooperation between the two countries which have not yielded fruit.

He says this will enable the two governments to enhance its bilateral relations for the mutual pursuit and benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

ZANIS Reports that Mr Kampyongo was speaking at a reception in Lusaka on the night of June 10th  in commemoration of the Russian Federation National Day.

And Mr Kampyongo has called on the Russian entrepreneurs to explore various business opportunities in Zambia in priority areas such as agriculture, tourism, energy infrastructural development, health, education and mining.

Meanwhile, Russian Federation Ambassador to Zambia, Konstantin Kozhanov, hailed Zambia for being one of the first countries to recognise the Russian Federation as an Independent State and the continuator of the United
Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1991.

Mr Kozhanov reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue training, forming and equipping Zambian specialists in various technical fields of the country’s economy.