Zambian leader urges global cooperation to attain Sustainable Development Goals

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has called for cooperation between the developed and developing world to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In a pre-recorded virtual message to the 76th UN General Assembly being held in New York, Hichilema said the globe had recorded significant progress in attaining the SDGs but the path had been compromised by challenges such as the COVID-19, climate change, terrorism and lack of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure.

He said there was a need to accelerate efforts to build Africa’s capacity in the ICT infrastructure sector through innovative solutions that would drive the digital migration agenda.

Zambia gave its first report on the SDGs in 2019, the president noted, and said the country has so far managed well.

Hichilema said the country was on the right trajectory in achieving the SDGs, a feat which would be sustained by his administration through resilient policy implementation to respond to present day and future development challenges.

On Sunday, Hichilema left for the US via a commercial Qatar Airways flight. He is accompanied by Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo.

Hichilema is expected to meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and US Vice President Kamala Harris, heads of the of the World Bank and IMF, according to the country’s foreign minister.