By ADRIAN MWANZA –
ZAMBIA will continue promoting peace and security in the region and around Africa, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has said.
Mr Kalaba said the Government was engaged in the Great Lakes Region peace and security efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to conflicts in that region.
He said the Government had also deployed 520 peacekeepers which would increase to 750 after complete deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission in the troubled Central African Republic (CAR).
The minister said this during a meeting with members of the diplomatic corps in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Kalaba said President Edgar Lungu aimed to create alliances with other foreign countries by forging strong partnerships to meet Zambia’s strategic objectives of good international relations.
He said this would increase inward foreign direct investments, trade expansion, mobilising resources and promoting sustainable development to build Zambia’s prosperity.
Mr Kalaba said Zambia’s interaction with the international community focused on promoting the country’s national interests in line with its foreign policy premised on values and principles that safeguarded the country’s security.
He said the Government was keen to maximise Zambia’s economic benefits from engagements with the international community.
“Government is keen to maximise Zambia’s economic benefits from engagements with the international community, and our leadership has intensified engagements with other leaders in the region and across
the globe,” he said.
The Government has also embarked on multi-sectoral infrastructure projects involving rehabilitation and construction of roads, schools, health posts, universities and airports to keep pace with the demands of a growing economy.
Palestinian Ambassador to Zambia Attalia Qubia called on the Government to continue with sound multilateral relations with other countries.
Mr Qubia said these relations had continued to grow due to the mutual trust that enabled the two parties influence change that had triggered development.
“Our relations have continued to grow from strength to strength because they are based on mutual trust and a firm belief,” she said.
