By ZR Reporter
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela has praised Zambia as a beacon of democracy, encouraging both sides to look ahead while maintaining respect for the rule of law.
The reaffirmation took place during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York. President Hakainde Hichilema was represented at the meeting by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe, who heads the Zambian delegation.
During the discussions, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to a forward-looking partnership and praised Zambia’s leadership in supporting multilateralism and the rules-based international order.
Both parties agreed to deepen economic cooperation through investment and value addition aligned with the Grow Zambia Agenda, with the EU expressing particular interest in electric-vehicle battery and critical-mineral value chains.
Zambia welcomed EU development cooperation, including approximately EUR 110 million in budget support and the Global Gateway initiative.
Furthermore, Zambia highlighted that the August elections were broadly peaceful and thanked the EU for deploying an election observation mission, with both sides agreeing that post-election developments should not detract from deepening economic ties.
© Zambia Reports | September 23, 2026