Lungu calls for dialogue with diplomats as Swiss President plans visit to Zambia
LET us dialogue with each other whenever there are issues to iron out because it is key, President Edgar Lungu has urged the diplomatic community.
And Swiss ambassador to Zambia Arthur Mattli, yesterday today President Lungu that the Swiss President, Alain Berset was planning to visit Zambia soon. President Lungu said that it was important for the diplomats to engage with him whenever there was something that seemed to be out of place. The Head of State said this when a business delegation from Switzerland, led by Swiss ambassador to Zambia Arthur Mattli paid a courtesy call on him at State House yesterday. President Lungu told the delegation that their visit was timely as they had come at a time when doomsayers where claiming that Zambia’s relations with western countries was dwindling. He reiterated that Zambia had a right to choose its own friends and that the country would collaborate with others that had the same aspirations. President Lungu, who revealed that the group was the first business delegation from Switzerland to come to Zambia under his reign, also welcomed that country’s intentions to escalate friendship with Zambia. “Your commitment to escalating relations with Zambia is welcome. Actually you have come at the right time when some people want to talk about our relations with some countries. We are free to choose our friends and we are looking forward to work with those who are willing to work with us. Otherwise, dialogue is key, let’s talk to each other so that we know how best to move forward,” he said. President Lungu also hailed the massive investments of Swiss firms in Zambia that he said had created employment and business opportunities for locals. And the ambassador, Mr Mattli announced that the Swiss President, Alain Berset was planning to visit Zambia soon. He said that President Berset was looking forward to come to Zambia in order to strengthen ties and possibly witness a number of bilateral agreements being signed between the two countries. Mr Mattli also outlined a number of successes that Switzerland and Zambia had been able to score and others areas of cooperation that the two countries could take advantage of. The business delegation from Switzerland comprised of over 15 business persons from different companies in that country.