Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:50:27 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is concerned with conflicts posing challenges to the region’s progress in social and economic development which have led to increasing numbers of internally displaced people, migrants and refugees.
President Lungu, who was in Rwanda for a two-day State visit, said this during bilateral talks with his counterpart, Paul Kagame and pointed out the escalating tensions and growing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He said conflicts had continued to pose challenges to the region’s progress in social and economic development which have led to increasing numbers of internally displaced people, migrants and refugees.
President Lungu pointed out the escalating tensions and growing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding the organisation of elections as well as ongoing violent clashes in the Eastern and Kasai regions of that country.
However, the President commended Rwanda’s engagement in supporting peace and security efforts in the DRC and underscored Zambia’s continued commitment to the ICGLR particularly in the ongoing efforts to find lasting peace in the DRC.
President Lungu said Zambia, as a member of the African Union Peace and Security Council, would continue to support the efforts of the various regional bodies, such as SADC, IGAD, and the ICGLR, aimed at finding lasting solutions to regional conflicts;
Meanwhile, President Lungu also called on the trade and investment promotion agencies and the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries to collaborate with each other to foster trade and investment linkages and partnerships in the spirit of south-south cooperation.
He has extended an invitation to Rwanda to participate in the 18th annual world export development forum that will be held in Lusaka, on September 5th and 6th 2018 under the framework of the International Trade Centre.
