Lungu urges envoys to strengthen ties

President Edgar Lungu has urged Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Zambia to enhance bilateral cooperation between their countries and Zambia.

 

Six Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Lesotho, Thailand, Indonesia and Georgia presented their credentials to President Lungu at State House today.

 

President Lungu said since independence, Zambia has established long standing bilateral relations with other countries around the world and hoped that the presence of High Commissioners and Ambassadors from various countries will further enhance the already existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

 

On Zimbabwe, President Lungu said that country and Zambia were close neighbours hence they can share a lot in terms of development.

 

He has meanwhile pledged to support Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe during his tenure as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

 

And Zimbabwe’s Ambassador Gertrude Takawira told President Lungu that her country holds the people of Zambia in high esteem because of the role they played during the liberation of Zimbabwe.

 

Ms. Takawira said she will work to broaden and deepen the historic relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe and pledged to promote collaboration between the two countries.

 

Meanwhile, the new Kenyan Ambassador Sophy Kombe delivered congratulatory messages from Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta stating that the people of Zambia have continued to be exemplary in the peaceful manner they conduct elections.

 

Mrs. Kombe stated that the cooperation between Zambia and Kenya has seen trade volumes flourish and hit an amount of about US$180 million while high level visits have also continued to be conducted between the two countries.

 

She said this is evidenced by the separate visits by the President of Kenya and his vice President last year.

 

Georgia has for the first time sent an ambassador to Zambia who is resident in Pretoria in South Africa.

 

Ambassador Beka Dvali also presented his credentials to President Lungu and pledged to link the two countries in various areas of cooperation.

 

Mr. Dvali stated that his country has a spirit of embracing new friends in the world saying Zambia is one of them.

 

He noted that Zambia and Georgia have unique historical experiences which can be shared and explored for the interest of both countries.

 

President Lungu congratulated and welcomed all the diplomats to Zambia and assured them of his support during their stay in the country.

 

After the presentation of credentials, President Lungu took time to interact with High Commissioners and Ambassadors.