President Hichilema Concludes Successful Engagements at 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg

Johannesburg, August 25th, 2023 – President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia has successfully concluded his engagements at the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa. President Hichilema attended the summit in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The summit, held under the theme “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism,” brought together leaders from BRICS countries and beyond to discuss crucial global issues.

During the two-day summit, President Hichilema participated in a high-level BRICS Roundtable Discussion co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Xi Jinping of China. The discussion centered around “Promoting African Integration And Jointly Building A High-Level Africa-China Community with A Shared Future.”

President Hichilema used the platform to commend BRICS for providing a vital space for African regional blocs to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing South-South Cooperation. He also expressed gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their unwavering support in Africa’s development endeavors. President Hichilema reiterated Zambia’s commitment to the Africa-China partnership through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), both on a national level and as the Chairperson of COMESA.

The Zambian President called upon China to increase its support for the continental development agenda, particularly in areas of infrastructure, industrialization, modernizing production, and capacity building. He urged for a strengthened partnership that would bring mutual benefits and contribute to a revitalized international order that is rule-based, fair, and inclusive.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Hichilema addressed the BRICS – AFRICA Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogues, focusing on the theme “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.” He emphasized the importance of coordination between BRICS and Africa to effectively respond to global challenges.

President Hichilema’s active participation at the BRICS Summit showcased Zambia’s commitment to fostering international partnerships for sustainable growth and development.