President Hichilema Hosts UN Tourism and Chinese Energy Delegations Amid Push for Sustainable Growth
In a series of high-level meetings on Thursday,President Hakainde Hichilema welcomed delegations from both the United Nations Tourism agency and China’s LONGi Green Energy Technology Company, underscoring the country’s strategic focus on tourism and energy as critical levers of economic development.
At State House in Lusaka, President Hichilema met with UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and his delegation, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to becoming a premier destination on the African continent.
“Zambia is eager to leverage her rich natural endowments and diverse tourism assets by tapping into the global networks and systems of the UN Tourism,” Mr. Hichilema said. “To unlock our full tourism potential, we must foster a policy environment that attracts international visitors, promotes sustainable development, and positions Zambia as a key player on the world tourism map.”
The visit comes at a time when Zambia is actively seeking to revive and expand its tourism industry, capitalizing on global best practices and institutional partnerships to improve infrastructure, boost international arrivals, and create jobs in rural and urban communities alike.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted from natural wonders to energy policy, as President Hichilema held talks with representatives of LONGi Green Energy Technology Company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar photovoltaic products. The Chinese delegation expressed interest in investing in Zambia’s renewable energy sector, which has taken on new urgency amid widespread drought and chronic power shortages.
The President revealed ambitious national targets: adding 10 gigawatts of energy capacity in the next five years, with at least 1 gigawatt to be delivered by December 2025.
“Without enough energy, our economy will struggle to grow,” Hichilema said. “We have urged LONGi to expedite their investment process. Our government is working hard to implement the necessary policy reforms to support these goals.”
Zambia, which relies heavily on hydropower, has seen its energy supply disrupted by extended dry spells—conditions that climate experts warn may become more frequent. The government has since intensified efforts to diversify its energy sources, including solar and wind, as part of a broader agenda for climate resilience and economic transformation.
The twin visits signal the government’s ongoing pivot toward global partnerships and private-sector investment as key drivers of national development. Hichilema, who came to power in 2021 on a platform of economic revival and institutional reform, has sought to reposition Zambia on the international stage through diplomacy, market-friendly policies, and infrastructure development.
“Your support and patience mean everything,” the President said, “as we work toward a stronger, more prosperous Zambia.”
May the results come soonest. We have held talks after talks, and it’s about time the same were walked!
Another “High level meeting”….how many high level meetings….historical…Monumental meetings has HH hosted still with nothing to show for it….and the nonsense continues…just fooling gullible praise singers otherwise nothing comes of these moments apart from making his own personal business deals….finito…ZAMBIA 0 HH 10
What Again ???
High level meetings……Monumental…Historical and the 5 year term is almost over with not even a single achievement….
Free education, all retirees paid , no more delayed salaries, no cader violence , debt servicing resumed, increased CDF to unprecedented levels , opening more solar farms, battery factory and mulugushi textiles opening , dormant mines opened…….
So much development…too much to list….Ohhh my ghhad…..
By 2040 with UPND , Zambia will be unrecognisable……
FWD2031
As i’ve said before HH should be the roving ambassador he would serve us better than in his current position
Why cant some see this
Always looking to foreigners for everything. No spirit of self reliance. No pioneering spirit. No ambition to build capacity locally. Just dependency syndrome.
The nationalist spirit died with KK, LPM, MCS generation. What has remained in politics is minds that are enslaved by globalist agendas that are bent on keeping Africans poor and dependent on aid, rather than self reliant. HH epitomises that sad reality. Zambia is gone. The pride that was once instilled in us when we looked at the flag and coat of arms has been erased by a globalist agenda driven through puppets who are installed at the helms of our sorry nations. Really sad.
Buti Bambo ………
here the president is looking for foreign investors to bring money into the country………
You are also free to invest………
, but you would rather complain 24hrs/d…….
FWD
@spaka no country has ever been developed by foreigners. Foreigners are here for their own interests.
Development happens when you develop your local human resource and empower them to be productive and innovative. Zambia can only be developed by Zambians and for Zambians.
Dependency on foreigners and claiming, “they are bringing money” is the most naive thing I have heard this month. Really short sighted thinking.
FQM has been in Zambia since 2005, look at solwezi. What significant deveoplement can you talk about? Now compare copperbelt during Kaunda days when mines were owned by Zambia. And then look at what has happened since FTJ sold them to foreigners.
Mwata
Nice rhetoric, if you believe that , you are naive……..
1st ….every country , even the USA, Japan , welcomes FDI……foreign direct investment, that is every country , so why should Zambia
refuse ?
2nd , Mines are not responsible for developing towns like solwezi , they pay taxes , that is the job of the government. They can have a minor social responsibility, that’s it.
3rd , in the early days , the mines built houses and towns for workers , some foreign to live in , because it was just bush……
4th , KK gave us the mines , we failed to run them, that’s why we sold them………
Sorry to introduce you to reality, however keep up that can do spirt , Zambia needs young leaders like you who are bold and patriotic with a can do attitude
FWD2031
Also here to air my displeasure over these ‘high level meetings which were very successful’.
Beginning to blame journalists and editors who publish these.
Let’s leave that to the political party’s media please.
The Culture department must please be given the support it deserves. The funding is too little and there no partners with Government who must help boost the department.
Always asking Zambians for more time?
First term is coming to an end.
Let’s reflect on real achievements.
Real achievements are too many to list here……….
FWD2031
Meanwhile we are selling electricity to other countries!! It does not make sense to me