President Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon, Wednesday January 26, 2022, received His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema of the Republic of Zambia for a courtesy visit to the official residence of Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Tshwane.
President Hichilema is visiting South Africa as a guest speaker at a private reception.
President Hichilema’s courtesy visit to President Ramaphosa provided an opportunity for bilateral talks between South Africa and Zambia ahead of an inaugural bi-national commission scheduled for later this year.
Today’s meeting also touched on regional issues, reaffirming South Africa and Zambia’s common international policy of a stable and peaceful continent.
This shared approach includes the use of multilateral bodies to advance the African and Global South agenda, and the collective solidarity of the SADC community in the fight against terrorism and insurgencies.
President Ramaphosa hailed Zambia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, reaffirming that developing countries must have equity in the development and distribution of vaccines.
The two leaders also noted progress in setting up facilities in Africa for the production of vaccines and other therapeutics that will reach people across the continent.
The leaders identified the need for South Africa and Zambia to keep abreast of investment opportunities in each country and to actively encourage companies to invest in areas of mutual interest for regional development, such as mineral beneficiation, local manufacturing and agriculture.
President Ramaphosa and President Hichilema have cemented bilateral relations between the two countries.
South Africa and Zambia enjoy cordial bilateral relations, underpinned by strong historical and political ties that date back to the era of liberation struggle and apartheid colonialism.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Presidency.
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