Riyadh, 8 August 2022 (TDI): The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Salman bin Abdulaziz accepted a letter from the Republican President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema on 7 August.
The message was in regards to the bilateral relations between Zambia and Saudi Arabia. The Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Stanley Kakubo, delivered the message to the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdulla in Riyadh. The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister welcomed Minister Kakubo in Riyadh.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques @KingSalman received a written message from the President of the Republic of #Zambia. pic.twitter.com/F4n0Q1sozA
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 7, 2022
Agenda of the meeting
The Saudi Arabian Foreign Affairs Minister showed appreciation for the longstanding relations between Zambia and Saudi Arabia. At the meeting, Minister Kakubo also reaffirmed the commitment of the Zambian government to cooperate with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This includes areas of peace and security as well as trade and investment for the benefit of both countries.
They also discussed ways to enhance and strengthen their cooperation in regional and international affairs.
Also read: Saudi Minister attended Zambian President’s Inauguration ceremony
Zambia and Saud Arabia’s diplomatic ties
One of the major areas of cooperation between Zambia and Saudi Arabia is the Agriculture sector. Over the past few years, the Zambian government has encouraged the government of Saudi Arabia to invest in the Zambian economy.
In 2013, for example, the then Zambian Deputy Minister of Lands, Natural Resources, and Environment Danny Chingimbu said, “We have to enhance the cordial relations so that we can improve the living standards of our people between the two countries.”
Furthermore, in 2020, Saudi Arabia exported $39.9 million to Zambia. The exports included Nitrogenous fertilizers worth $19.5 million, Ethylene Polymers worth $7.22 million, and Sulphur worth $5.89 million.
Zambia on the other hand exported products worth $47.8 million to Saudi Arabia in 2020. The exports also included Refined copper, Ferroalloys, and Coffee.
Currently, the areas of cooperation have expanded to include health, disaster management, agriculture, fertilizer, and energy. In a statement earlier this year by the United Party for National Development (UNDP) National Youth Information and Publicity Secretary David Chikwanda.
”we applaud the president’s efforts in forging strategic ties with saudi arabia. the entire world is definitely feeling the impacts of the conflict in ukraine which is likely to slow down the growth of most world economies and push prices of food and commodities upwards. Developing countries like zambia are likely to be affected the most. in times like these, any country needs a proactive , and pragmatic leadership……the call by president hichilema to the kingdom of saudi arabia to convert zambia’s loan facility into grant is timely and we support the president.”
