By Ellen Hambuba
President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has described the Africa-France Summit as a broader platform for continental engagement.
And President HICHILEMA has dismissed claims that African leaders who attended the summit had been summoned by France.
Responding to a question from CNN journalist LARRY MADOWO, President HICHILEMA said the meeting should not be viewed as one country calling African leaders together.
He said similar Africa-partner summits are regularly hosted by participating countries.
The President said the recent gathering differed from previous meetings because it was held on African soil and included participation from a wider range of African countries beyond the traditional Francophone bloc.
He said the summit brought together Anglophone, Francophone and other African nations in what he described as a more inclusive approach aimed at strengthening cooperation and dialogue across the continent.
President HICHILEMA said attention should instead be placed on collaboration, representation and shared development goals rather than perceptions surrounding the hosting of such meetings.
-ZNBC