"President Hichilema Commends BRICS for Fostering African Development and Cooperation"

Praising the efforts of the BRICS nations, President Hakainde Hichilema has lauded Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa for establishing crucial platforms within African regional blocs. These platforms serve as vital arenas for discussions aimed at fostering cooperation and advancing development initiatives across the continent.

President Hichilema emphasizes that the developmental trajectories pursued by each of the BRICS economies, leading them to achieve the status of 'Emerging Developing Economies', offer invaluable insights that warrant careful examination. He underscores the importance of gleaning wisdom from these models to inform Africa's own growth strategies.

Reflecting on his participation in the BRICS Round Table discussion, jointly chaired by South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, President Hichilema expresses profound gratitude. The discussion, held under the banner of "Promoting African Integration and Jointly Building a High-Level Africa-China Community with A Shared Future," provided an esteemed platform for dialogue. 

President Hichilema extends commendation to the BRICS consortium for providing this avenue for African Regional Blocks to engage in pivotal conversations that amplify South-South Cooperation, a crucial element in fostering mutual progress.

"The developmental pathways pursued by each BRICS economy, resulting in their emergence as 'Emerging Developing Economies,' hold considerable lessons that merit careful evaluation," he asserts.

Furthermore, President Hichilema lauds the People’s Republic of China for its substantial partnership in bolstering Africa's developmental endeavors. He underscores Zambia's unswerving commitment to the Africa-China partnership through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Zambia, both as a sovereign nation and in its capacity as the Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), stands steadfast in this partnership.

President Hichilema takes the opportunity to extend an invitation to the People’s Republic of China, urging increased support for Africa's overarching development agenda. He highlights specific areas such as infrastructure development, industrialization, modernizing agricultural production, and enhancing human resource capabilities. This proactive engagement, he emphasizes, will contribute to a stronger foundation for shared progress and prosperity across the continent.