CHAKWERA HELD BILATERAL TALKS WITH EGYPT

By Yamikani Yapuwa – Mana

President Lazarus Chakwera  on Thursday afternoon held bilateral talks with President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sis soon after attending the 22nd COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit in Lusaka.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chakwera said the talk focused on the promotion of cooperation between  the two countries whose relationship dates back since independence.

“We talked  about various areas which we cooperate and exchanged ideas on how we can help develop our nations. The Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation last met in 2016 and we met again to talk about various areas of cooperation.

” We talked about  trade, exchange of agricultural products with Egyptian companies so that we can get fertilizers that way,” said Chakwera.

He said President El-Sisi has also offered deep sympathies to Malawi for the devastation of Cyclone Freddy early this year and expeessed his government’s commitment to support the recovery efforts.

“The Egyptian delegation expressed their concern and they  were  sad to  hear about the devastation of Cyclone Freddy and they have requested for a report as to what happened and what are the needs. They want to see, how best they can support,” added Chakwera.

Chakwera also said Egypt indicated that they stand for peace and they want Africa and the world to be at peace hence their decision not fuel any conflict anywhere.

” They feel that no development can take place without peace. Once you destabilise, things do not work. So they have really demonstrated patience and perseverance even at times when they have to deal with issues like the  Nile Dam dispute with Ethiopia”.  He said

Speaking on peace and security earlier during the  opening of the 18th meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers,  Secretary General for Comesa Chileshe Kapwepwe said it was encouraging that they have witnessed encouraging developments around some of the issues of security that were considered during Comesa’s last meeting.

“The progress made in the resolution of the conflict that was witnessed in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the commitment by the leaders to implement the November 2022 Agreement is very encouraging.

” There is also renewed hope that Libya is getting back on track towards implementing the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement that will move Libya from the transition phase after more than a decade of instability,” said Kapwepwe.

Mana /yy/scm