Swazi Observer

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KING MEETS HICHILEMA IN DOHA

By Observer Online | 2023-03-07

His Majesty the King met Zambian President Haikande Hichilema for bilateral talks on the side-lines of the on-going Fifth United Nations Conference for Least Developed Countries (LDCS).

The King is currently in Doha, Qatar for the four-day summit, whereby leaders, foreign affairs ministers, education ministers, United Nations (UN) delegates, international banks and youths have converged to discuss the acceleration of sustainable development in places where international assistance is needed the most, and to tap the full potential of the Least Developed Countries helping them make progress on the road to prosperity.

During the meeting, the two leaders’ talks were centred on bilateral relations, peace and security cooperation in the region.

“I also reaffirmed Zambia’s commitments of SADC members to restore peace and stability in the region,” wrote President Hichilema on his Twitter page.

In June last year, the President was on a three-day state visit in the country at the invitation of His Majesty.

President Hakainde Hichilema pledged that his administration would work with the kingdom to enhance agriculture, tourism and mining to create business opportunities for the two southern African nations.

Before meeting the Zambian President, His Majesty addressed the Conference and pleaded for more financial and technical support from the international community following the massive reduction in development aid.

The King said that Eswatini was among several middle-income countries that have experienced a substantial reduction in aid, and therefore urged the world donor community to upscale support.

His Majesty also expressed concern that some countries who graduated from the LDC category are not supported to enable them to remain in their elevated status and cushioned against external shocks.

"We now find ourselves facing daunting challenges in creating an enabling environment for our people to live in.”

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