Zambia, Cuba agree on cooperation

ZAMBIA and Cuba have agreed to hold a joint permanent Commission of cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande said the two countries agreed to look into possibilities of enhancing cooperation in the health, education, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing sectors.

Mr Pande said the joint permanent commission is expected to take place in Lusaka before the end of this year.

He was speaking yesterday when he held a bilateral meeting with the Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcos Rodriguez Costa and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Rodrigo Malmierca at the on-going ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Havana, Cuba.

Mr Pande said the two countries also discussed the need for Zambia to consider opening a mission in Havana, as the matter has been outstanding for a long time.

And in his address to the NAM conference, Mr Pande said the global financial and economic crisis is severe to least-developed countries.
Mr Pande said concerted efforts are required to address challenges faced by the least-developed countries.

He said the NAM’s role in addressing challenges for its members such as maintenance of international peace, security and disarmament remains important.

“Today, the movement faces greater challenges posed by global injustices in the unfair trading practices and uneven distribution of wealth,” Mr Pande said.

He said Zambia believes that the United Nations remains the central and indispensable forum for addressing issues relating to international cooperation for economic development, social progress, peace, security, human rights and the rule of law.

Mr Pande said Africa must be fully represented on the Security Council with two permanent seats and that the historical injustice done to Africa be corrected. 
He called on the international community, especially the NAM countries to support Zimbabwe rebuild its economy than be observers of how the situation unfolds in that country.

The conference is the last one in Cuba prior to the 15th summit of the heads of State and government of the NAM to be held in Egypt in July this year.

The meeting has been convened to analyse a wide range of subjects contained in the draft declaration of the forum which include disarmament, fight against drug abuse, terrorism and need for a new international economic order.

The meeting is also looking at the world economic and financial criss, regional conflict, human rights, migration and natural resources among others.