Zambia, India leaders pledge closer ties

LUSAKA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Wednesday held bilateral talks with visiting Indian President Nath Kovind, with both pledging to take the relations to greater heights.

The Zambian leader held the talks with his counterpart, who is in the country on a three-day state visit, at State House.

In his remarks, Lungu said the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations over the years and hoped that the relationship will be taken to a greater height.

On his part, the Indian president hoped that the visit will deepen the already existing cordial relations between the two countries and revive a joint permanent commission.

The Indian leader, who said the foundation of the bilateral ties was deep, added that he was looking forward to improved ties.

The two leaders later witnessed the signing of four memoranda of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation in various sectors.

Among the memorandum of understanding includes avoidance of double taxation, visa exemption on diplomatic passports and allowing the diplomatic passport holders to enter without visas, judicial cooperation which seeks collaboration in training and expedition of judicial matters affecting the two countries and another one that seeks for the establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Zambia in conformity with the Vision 2030 which would help entrepreneurs to access finance and general empowerment.

The Indian president arrived in Zambia on Tuesday, accompanied by First Lady Savita Kovind, and a 300-member delegation comprising of senior government officials and a business delegation.

It was the first visit in three decades by an Indian president to the southern African nation.

According to government figures, private investment in Zambia by Indian companies currently stands at over 5 billion U.S. dollars while bilateral trade stood at 1.2 billion dollars from April 2017 to January 2018. Enditem