Hichilema calls for deepening of Zambia-Japan ties as diplomatic relations clock 60 years

President Hakainde Hichilema has called for joint investment partnerships between Zambia and Japan in the areas of mining, agriculture, energy and tourism.

Hichilema said this should also be coupled with other sectors of interest between the two countries as a way of boosting the economies.

The President said this when the Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Takeuchi Kazuyuki, led a delegation to State House on Tuesday to discuss key areas of mutual cooperation.

The discussion on key areas of mutual cooperation is in relation to the marking of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Zambia and Japan.

“The two countries have worked together on shared values such as peace, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law,” Hichilema said.

He commended the longstanding friendship between Zambia and Japan, which marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

Hichilema also expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s continuous cooperation led by JICA in various fields, such as agriculture and infrastructure development.

“There is also a need for further cooperation on new issues such as climate change, disaster prevention, emergency response, and food security and for strengthening collaboration to achieve economic growth,” he stated.

Hichilema highlighted that Zambia had greatly benefitted from Japanese assistance in key sectors, such as agriculture, energy, health, education, infrastructure and private sector development.

He also noted their assistance through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) frameworks.

Earlier, Takeuchi pledged his country’s continued support to Zambia when called upon, citing Japan’s support against the recent cholera outbreak.

“Both countries will work hand in hand to make the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations a great occasion for the two countries and to attract more business from Japan to Zambia to achieve dynamic bilateral economic relations,” he said.

Takeuchi also expressed hope that Japan and Zambia would cooperate not only bilaterally but also for the regional and international community on issues such as climate change and humanitarian support.

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