• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (left) shares a light moment with Ambassadors and High Commissioners after they presented credentials at State House in Lusaka yesterday. Picture By SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has revealed that the Government is working with cooperating partners to address challenges the country was facing as a result of global economic dynamics and climate change.
President Lungu said Zambia had not been spared from the negative effects of the global economic downturn and climate change, which have manifested in the domestic economy.
“Zambia has not been spared from the effects of the global economic downturn and climate change as well as the energy deficit being experienced in the country.
“In this regard, my Government looks forward to working with your respective countries to address these issues as they are of a global nature and ultimately affect us all,” President Lungu said.
The President was speaking yesterday when he received credentials from seven Ambassadors and High Commissioners at State House in Lusaka.
Those that presented their credentials were Shabbir Chowdhury of Bangladesh, Carlos Parker of Chile, Andras Keraly of Hungary and eamus O’Grady of Ireland.
Others are Senzangakona Dlamini of Swaziland, Henrik Cederin of Sweden and Alessandro Mariani of the European Union (EU).
He said Zambia would tap into Bangladesh’s agriculture and financial expertise in order to realise diversification of the economy.
On Chile, President Lungu said, the two countries needed to rekindle their cooperation in the management of copper mining because they were both major copper producers.
Zambia and Chile needed to develop the value addition chain of copper that would see the two countries’ minerals processed locally.
Mr Lungu said Zambia and Hungary should work together to explore new avenues of possible cooperation in various sectors.
He hailed Ireland for the role that Country has played in the growth of Zambia’s socio-economic development, particularly in rural areas and through the Church.
The President also hailed the on-going visits between Zambia and Swaziland especially the shared practices on economic empowerment of women.
He was looking forward to King Mswati’s visit to Zambia following his invitation to grace Zambia’s 51st Independence anniversary.
Mr Lungu said Sweden and the European Union were vital partners in health, agriculture, education, energy, trade and governance, a relationship that the Government remained committed to.
Mr Chowdhury of Bangladesh said Zambia and his country shared goals that needed to be strengthened while Mr Parker of Chile said, his country wanted to cooperate with Zambia on various sectors of mutual interest.
Mr Keraly of Hungary said his government was committed to improving relations while Mr O’Grady said Ireland wanted to emphasise the relationship of the two countries on trade and tourism.
Chief Dlamini of Swaziland said it was important for the two countries to sustain and promote good relations, especially those hinging on trade, science and technology.
Mr Cederin of Sweden said a number of companies were interested in investing in Zambia while Mr Mariani of the European Union said the bloc had prioritised support to energy issues in Zambia.