Mrs Wina said Turkey remains a strategic country to Zambia’s development agenda because of the high-levels of development that the country has recorded in recent years.
“We have noticed that development in Turkey is much higher than in many developed countries, this is a very strategic country and Zambia needs to forge stronger trade and diplomatic relations,” Mrs Wina said.
The Vice-President said this when Zambia’s Ambassador designate to the Republic of Turkey, Mr Joseph Chilengi and Zambia Honorary Consul in Istanbul, Dr Bulent Goktuna, paid a courtesy call on her in Istanbul today.
Mrs Wina transited through Istanbul on her way to attend the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government summit in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
“This is a country that is enjoying development from almost three worlds it borders, its geographical position gives it a status that is much more enriched by the civilisations around. Turkey is between Europe, Asia and to some extent, the Middle East,” Mrs Wina said.
She added that President Edgar Lungu’s administration was pursuing a fore?gn pol?cy anchored on econom?c diplomacy to attract the much needed Foreign D?rect Investment (FDI) to create jobs for the c?t?zens.
Mrs Wina urged diplomats to step up promotion of the country as a tour?sm and ?nvestment destination of choice and to facilitate bus?ness partnersh?ps between foreign companies and local firms.
“We have been mining copper for so many years but I think there is a gap somewhere, we need to get into the value addition of copper for the country to benefit from that resource,” Mrs Wina said.
She also congratulated Turkey for holding successful Presidential and parliamentary elections in which incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emerged victorious to become Turkey’s first executive President under the new constitution.
“We believe that President Erdogan is a strong leader who has maintained the unity of the country,” Mrs Wina said
She said to cement the existing warm relations between the two countries there was need for increased high-level reciprocal visits.
The Vice-President thanked the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the warm reception accorded to her, which demonstrated the existing strong relations between the two countries.
And Mr Chilengi thanked the Vice-President for the visit and expressed hope that she would visit Turkey in the near future to complement efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries.
He said the Mission was working hard to promote Zambia as an investment and tourism destination of choice in line with the country’s foreign policy.
Vice-President, Inonge Wina will represent His Excellency, Mr Edgar Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, at the summit to be held in Nouakchott from June 25 to July 3, 2018, under the theme “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”.
She doesn’t know what she is talking about.
How is she ?
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Agreed. She’s better off asking, “what do we Zambians know and do not know about Turkey”?
When it comes to talking, this government wins hands down,
But when it comes to action, this government is shy. Impotent.
This old hen should have been president though. Not the drunkard corrupt Lungu.
Go go should retire
That’s scary!!!! Even the cleaning up of coup in that country is not complete.
Dora was cheated of a ship of electricity, who in Zambia can go to that scary country to inquire about the scandle?
Which sane Zambian wants relations with Turkey?
Why do politicians call for stronger trade and diplomatic relations and bla bla bla? Why not just create these relations?
Why is the president absent from this crucial meeting. Is he allergic to the word corruption of which our country stinks of?
There is a reason why most countries don’t want to cozy up with dictatorship. Zambia’s relationship with Turkey should be of great concern to Zambians. Turkey has become a great dictatorship and there’s a reason it is not part of the European Union. Their politics has always been at odds with the European environment and their recent dictatorial tendencies have thrown them away from democratic countries. So, how is this relationship going to affect your elections and the environment surrounding the election process? Do some investigations into the reasons why they are partnering more with the police force of Turkey. Why are they training some officers in Turkey and why are they supplying Zambia with equipment? Why are they so focused on riot gear than investigative technics and tools?…
Transiting through Turkey? Turkey is in central Europe, part of it is actually in Asia. Mauritania is way back in the West most part of Africa. Say it as it is, a visit, and tell us the real reason for it. By the way she was in Liverpool just before this. Has Lungu said to her, “Mum, here, time for you to make the allowances, ..me, I am up to my neck in them – what with all my external and internal commissioning tours”.