Zambia’s president hails Egypt’s role in preserving African peace, security

CAIRO – 8 June 2023: Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema hailed Egypt’s pioneering role and efforts in pushing forward development in Africa and preserving continental peace and security, the Egyptian Presidential Spokesman, Ahmed Fahmi, said.

In a meeting on Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, President Hichilema affirmed his country’s keenness to develop cooperation relations with Egypt and push forward these relations to broader horizons of joint work.

Hichilema said Zambia is also keen to continue consultations with Egypt on issues and challenges facing Africa in light of the Egyptian role in Africa.

The Zambian president hailed the achievements made under Egypt’s presidency of COMESA over the past period.

For his part, Sisi affirmed Egypt's aspiration to strengthen the historical bilateral relations with Zambia and to activate joint cooperation frameworks between the two countries in various fields.

This especially includes increasing trade exchange and exploring mutual investment opportunities in a way that achieves common interests.

Sisi added that Egypt is keen to continue providing various aspects of support to the Zambian brothers and building their capacities. Egypt is also keen to continue coordination with Zambia on the regional and African issues, Sisi said.

The Egyptian president expressed his sincere wishes of success for Hichilema in leading COMESA and continuing to work on advancing the frameworks of joint cooperation within the economic community during the coming period.

Sisi arrived in Zambia on Wednesday to attend the 22nd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Governments Summit, which kicked off in Lusaka today with the participation of the COMESA 21 member states.

The summit is held under the theme: “Economic Integration for a Thriving COMESA Anchored on Green Investments, Value Addition and Tourism”.

Zambia is President Sisi’s second stop in his African tour that included Angola and is set to also include Mozambique with the aim of enhancing efforts to achieve economic integration in Africa.