Zambia to strengthen ties with Ireland
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says Zambia will continue to strengthen the ties with Irish government in all areas of development.
President said the Irish government and Zambia had been all-weather friends in the health and education sectors.
President Lungu said this when Irish Ambassador Seamus O’Grady and Special Envoy to Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar paid a courtesy call on him at State House yesterday.
Mr Lungu said the Irish government had drastically contributed to the development of the two sectors which was critical to the Zambian people.
President Lungu said the two countries would continue to strengthen their bilateral and multilateral relationships for the benefit of their people.
Mr Lungu also pointed out the need for two countries to share ideas in the development of other areas.
“Some of us have been products of your contribution to this country. So we need to continue strengthening our bilateral and multilateral relationship and continue to share more issues.
“The country has benefitted a lot from your government in the areas of health and education,” President Lungu said.
Meanwhile Mr Varadkar acknowledged the bilateral relationship which the two countries had enjoyed for many years.
Mr Varadkar said that next year would clock 40 years when the Irish embassy was built, saying that this was a clear indication of the close relationship the two countries enjoyed.
And Mr Varadkar appealed to President Lungu for Zambia’s support in the forthcoming United Nation Security Council election to be held next year.
Ireland is vying for the membership of non-permanent category of the UN Security Council for the period between 2021 and 2022.