Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
During the 5th session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation between Burundi and Zambia held in Lusaka from June 12 to 12, 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO, in his speech delivered on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation between the Republic of Burundi and the Republic of Zambia, hoped for the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
This joint cooperation commission constitutes a historic step that provided a platform for honest discussions on the current state of bilateral relations between Burundi and Zambia and to identify new areas of cooperation. Both sides engaged as equal partners in the quest to improve the lives of the people of both countries and address the challenges of poverty, peace and security, climate change, migration, food security, and the SDGs, among others. This is a critical time for many African countries. In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E Amb. Albert Shingiro said that as leaders, they have a unique responsibility and opportunity to promote change and build the Africa we want as the global power of the future.
Minister Albert Shingiro stressed that this session comes at the right time 11 years after the 4th session that Burundi hosted in Bujumbura on November 4, 2013. F 11 years is a long period without holding another political and diplomatic consultation to evaluate the implementation of the conclusions of the 4th session of this joint cooperation commission. These are lessons to be learned from this situation, as some challenges could worsen over time. This requires increased frequency of our political and diplomatic consultations at different levels. However, he added that they could not blame themselves because from 2015 to 2020 Burundi went through a very difficult period marked by political, diplomatic and security aggression on the part of certain foreign actors. This aggression had a negative impact on Burundi’s diplomatic action and the economic situation of the country.
This joint cooperation commission was the instruction given by President Evariste Ndayishimiye and President Hakainde Hichilema on the sidelines of the latest summits of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and BRICS held in Lusaka and Johannesburg. The instruction was therefore clear: we should urgently organize this ongoing JPCC session here in Lusaka.
Minister Shingiro praised senior officials from both sides for their excellent work during the virtual meetings in November 2023, December 2023, and now in Lusaka. The excellent work they have done so far has facilitated the deliberations. In this regard, he was pleased to note that five (5) memoranda of understanding (MoU) in various areas of common interest were signed following lengthy negotiations held in a spirit of openness and trust between the two parties. Both sides agreed that some of the remaining MoUs would be signed in July 2024 and others in three months.
The common goal is to change the lives of the Burundian and Zambian people for the better. Both parties want to see their young people educated, trained and developed to become businessmen and not job seekers. Along the same lines, the Governments of both countries are determined to integrate women into the mainstream economy and play a key role in stimulating economic growth and contributing to shared prosperity. To achieve this, both parties must engage more effectively and continue to embark on cooperative projects in the areas of agriculture, mining, services, defense and security, economy and finance, trade, transport and investment as well as social and humanitarian affairs. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E Amb. Albert Shingiro firmly believes that together, joint efforts will be rewarded with economic transformation in both countries that will result in a better life for all.
The main objectives for this session of the Joint Cooperation Commission also included conducting deliberations that will contribute to eradicating poverty, job creation and reducing inequalities in our countries. The Burundian Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs said that they must explore ways and means to promote and protect investments in the two countries, particularly because the Burundian government and the Zambian government ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area. Burundi, like Zambia and many other African countries, is endowed with abundant human and natural resources, which should contribute to achieving development goals and freeing ourselves from the shackles of poverty, disease, unemployment and inequality. A better life for all can be achieved over a lifetime, but countries must work more closely together to achieve it. It is in this context that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has become even more relevant. This is indeed a major achievement for the continent and we consider it a “game changer” and a catalyst to boost intra-African trade and economic integration on the continent.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation urged participants to ensure that this meeting of the Joint Cooperation Commission produces tangible results and milestones that they will hold themselves responsible for achieving on time agreed. Issues related to trade, transport and investment are crucial. Burundi and Zambia must address all the challenges that threaten the expansion of their economic cooperation. Creating an open, inclusive and discrimination-free space for the digital economy is also important.
To conclude, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E Amb. Albert Shingiro reaffirmed the full commitment of the Republic of Burundi to strengthen and deepen the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation between Burundi and Zambia, based on mutual trust and African solidarity. Note that this joint cooperation commission which was an opportunity to assess the state of bilateral cooperation between Burundi and Zambia was crowned with success and was concluded with the signing of 5 agreements/MoUs in various sectors of interest common