He expresses his appreciation for Ankara’s unwavering support for Zambia’s development initiatives in health, tourism, education, and media.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday expressed his appreciation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Eurasian region.
Hichilema also thanked Erdoğan for Turkey’s unwavering support for Zambia’s development initiatives in sectors such as health, tourism, education, and media.
During his farewell speech at the end of his mission in Zambia, Turkey’s Ambassador to Zambia, İstem Circiroğlu, highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed a desire to continue boosting economic ties.
“I would like to thank not only President Erdoğan, the government, and the Turkish people for their role in stabilizing the [Eurasian] region because peace, security, and stability are important for all of us. Instability anywhere is instability everywhere. President Erdoğan, the government, and the Turkish people have sacrificed much to stabilize the region, facilitate trade through the Black Sea, and address issues such as Russia, Ukraine, and migration,” said Hichilema, adding that he looked forward to making a planned state visit to Ankara.
He emphasized that Zambia admires Turkey’s progress in economic development and institutional advancement and is eager to learn from and share best practices with Turkey.
Hichilema also pointed out that Zambia and Turkey share strong bilateral relations based on democratic values, good governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. He expressed appreciation for Turkey’s growing partnership with Africa through trade and investment.
Circiroğlu stated that the trade volume between Zambia and Turkey stands at $52 million, highlighting the potential for further increasing trade and cooperation between the two countries.
“We have been and will continue to be a good partner for Zambia in many areas. We will continue to collaborate in various fields, from trade to business, from Turkish scholarships to other exchanges, and together, we will work to build a better future,” he added.
