President Hakainde Hichilema has concluded his engagements in Johannesburg, South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit in his capacity as Chairperson of the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Summit was convened under the theme Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.
During the two-day Summit President Hichilema participated at the BRICS Roundtable Discussion, co-chaired by His Excellency Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
The High-Level Dialogue was held under the theme “Promoting African Integration And Jointly Building A High-Level Africa-China Community with A Shared Future.
During the discussion, President Hichilema commended BRICS for providing a platform for African regional blocks to discuss matters critical for enhancing South-South Cooperation.
President Hichilema thanked the People’s Republic of China for being a valuable partner in supporting Africa’s development efforts.
He reiterated Zambia’s commitment to the Africa-China partnership through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), both as a nation and as Chairperson of COMESA.
President Hichilema urged the People’s Republic of China to increase support for the continental development agenda, especially in areas of infrastructure development, industrialization, modernizing production, particularly in agriculture, and capacity building of human resources.
On the sidelines of the Summit, President Hichilema addressed the BRICS – AFRICA Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogues whose theme was “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”.
He said the discourse resonated well at a time when the continent is seeking sustainable solutions to the current unprecedented economic challenges.
The President further called on the Summit to serve as a stepping stone to enhance coordination between BRICS and Africa, enabling an effective response to the global social, political, economic, and environmental challenges.
The President said Zambia was eager to strengthen partnerships that bring mutual benefits, and remained keen on fortifying economic ties with likeminded countries, based on the complementary nature of resources.
President Hichilema advocated for a revitalized international order that is rule-based, fair, and inclusive, addressing opportunities and challenges in solidarity, to achieve outcomes that are mutually beneficial.
Issued by
Tamara Nyirenda
First Secretary Press and Public Relations
Zambia High Commission
South Africa