US Backs HHs New Mandate ,Pledges Deeper Cooperation

The United States has reaffirmed Zambia’s position as a key strategic partner and called for deeper cooperation in health, investment, critical minerals, and border transparency following bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York. The discussions were led by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Chris Kulukundis and Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, who represented President Hakainde Hichilema at the meeting. During the talks, the United States congratulated President Hichilema on his re-election and reiterated its commitment to strengthening a forward-looking partnership with Zambia. Both countries pledged to deepen their cooperation through increased investment, value addition initiatives, and broader economic collaboration aligned with Zambia’s Grow Zambia Agenda. Minister Haimbe emphasized that economic diplomacy remains central to Zambia’s development strategy, noting that the country highly values its partnership with the United States and views continued collaboration as critical to advancing national development objectives. The meeting also saw both governments reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across multiple sectors. The two sides agreed to maintain close communication and continue high-level engagements in both Washington and Lusaka. The discussions underscored the growing importance of Zambia-US relations, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as economic growth, health cooperation, and the responsible development of critical mineral resources. The bilateral engagement formed part of a series of meetings taking place during UNGA81, where world leaders and senior government officials are convening to address global and regional priorities.