Again, President Hichilema urged to engage China on debt restructuring

Rhoma Foreign Relations Institute (RFRI) has called on President Hakainde Hichilema to heed to calls from stakeholders in the country to undertake a state visit to China and end the speculation surrounding Zambia’s relation with China.

Institute Founder and Executive Director, Lengwe Bwalya, notes that China is an all-weather friend of Zambia and there is a sense and belief that with proper diplomatic engagement at the highest level, debt restructuring can be resolved within reasonable time.

Bwalya in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday said with the newly appointed Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ivan Zyuulu, the country can only hope that this exercise will be expedited to allow President Hichilema to visit China.

“However, as a country we are still grumping with the debt overhang that is impeding over economic recovery. And as such it is expected that our diplomatic engagement focus must be on China, which is and remains one of the most instrumental figures in unlocking this debt burden,” he said.

Bwalya said it is important for government to engage China to seek remedies for the quarter of the US$14 billion external debt owed to them.

He has also applauded President Hichilema’s attendance of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla as it is a good gesture and gives Zambia the much-needed diplomatic exposure especially as a member of the Commonwealth.

“In the same vein we encourage President Hichilema to consider making an official State visit to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the only neighbouring country he is yet to visit officially out of all of Zambia’s neighbouring states,” Bwalya said.

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