Today (Tuesday), President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, held a formal ceremony to welcome the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, and his wife, Mutinta, who are visiting Israel. The Zambian President was received in an official ceremony at the President's Residence, where the national anthems of both countries were played. Afterward, the presidents reviewed the honor guard of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and finally, the President of Zambia signed the traditional guestbook of the President of Israel.
According to the President's Office statement, "The leaders held a diplomatic work meeting in which they discussed additional ways to deepen trade and cooperation between the two countries. Additionally, they discussed the importance of stability in the region and the growing threat of Iran in the Middle East and its surroundings."
"Zambia is a wonderful country with which Israel has enjoyed exceptional relations for many years. We believe in this cooperation and in promoting economic ties between us," said President Herzog at the start of the meeting. "We have so many areas of common interest, in technology, agriculture, science, health, and so many other topics."
Herzog continued and emphasized the importance of Zambia's role in Africa and Israel's connections with the continent. Additionally, he noted Israel's significant role as an observer state in the African Union and the important contribution of Israel and Israeli innovation to communities and countries throughout Africa in areas such as water, climate, and more.
The President of Zambia responded to Herzog, saying, "I want to emphasize the importance of our longstanding relationship that began many years ago. The relations between Israel and Zambia are not only between governments but also between people, and in addition, there is a significant Jewish community in Zambia. We are grateful for this connection, and we would like to further promote this relationship." The President also mentioned that he completed his undergraduate studies at a school in Zambia built by Israel, stating, "This is just one example of our ongoing relationship over the years."
In summary, the Zambian President shared that the goal of his government is to achieve economic success, stating, "Economic success is rooted in trade and investments. Therefore, I want to explore opportunities within the context of our relationship, considering Israel's tremendous experience in technology in agriculture, healthcare, water, and more. I know that we have many projects, and precise irrigation is very important to us."
