PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is today expected to undertake a state visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend the first Saudi-Africa Summit.
The Head of State is also expected to engage in developmental issues at the sidelines of the summit which among them involves strengthening of ties between Saudi Arabia and Zambia.
The visit is expected to be from today November 9th up until November 11th, 2023.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation Stanley Kakubo said the visit is at the invitation of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said the inaugural summit has been convened under the theme: “A Promising Partnership” and will seek to strengthen further the relations between Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Mr Kakubo noted that discussions at the summit will revolve around critical topics such as trade and investment, food security, energy, global peace and security, migration, United Nations reform, financing capital, and climate change, among others.
“President Hichilema is scheduled to address the summit on key thematic areas. The summit will be preceded by a meeting of Foreign Ministers. Additionally, on the margins of the summit, President Hichilema is expected to hold bilateral talks with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties between the two countries,” he said.
Mr Kakubo said Saudi Arabia remains a strategic bilateral partner for Zambia and this summit provides a pivotal platform for reinforcing existing relations.
He reiterated that Zambia is keen to increase inward investment in various sectors and stands ready to diversify its trade relations by exploring markets for its goods.
“Therefore, the President’s high-level engagements in Saudi Arabia are set to catalyse practical measures and a revitalised commitment to bolster economic cooperation. These efforts will, in turn, pave the way for the implementation of collaborative projects in strategic domains, promising tangible benefits for the people of Zambia,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 9th November, 2023)