Communique

Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia – 30^th April 2025

The International Relations Association of Zambia (IRAZ) successfully hosted the second edition of the Diplomats’ Roundtable Meeting on the 30^th of April 2025 at Intercontinental Hotel, bringing together over 20 representatives from the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, thought leaders, policy makers and youth leaders to discuss strategies to enhance co-operataion under the theme “Zambia in a Changing World- Adapting Foreign Policy to Emerging Geopolitical Realities”.

Key Highlights;

Dr. Kasuka Mutukwa, former and first Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum delivered the first keynote address on “Navigating uncertain times in diplomacy and international relations”. Pointing out seven trends to look out for in the current state of international relations, He highlighted that the overall peace of the world is threatened by open wars in Ukraine, Palestine, South Sudan and DRC. With other major challenges on international peace and security such as;

• Threats by some major global powers like the U.S and Russia to occupy some sovereign countries.
• Continued suppressing of would be nations by denying them self-determination and independence which include Palestine, Ukraine and Kurds.
• The declining role of the United Nations and especially its security council and its Secretary General in maintaining international peace and security as mandated by the UN Charter. Four of the five permanent members of the Security Council except China have been using their veto power to paralyze the ability of the UN to deal with major wars that are raging today.
• A number of continental and regional organizations such as the African Union, ECOWAS and the great lakes organization, east African community, SADC and Asia have all been unable to address most of the conflicts in their regions.
• Conflicts in countries over disputed elections and the emergence of totalitarianism especially in the global south countries with Africa at the center, have potential to destabilize the countries concerned and their regions.
• President Trump’s administration putting a number of international organizations under threat including WHO, WTO, and international financial institutions.
• The emerging role of the BRICS- the powerful grouping of the world’s leading emerging market economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Crisis in the international economy

Challenges in the international economy have been developing slowly over the past decade. The election of president Trump in the U.S has brought about the crisis that is referred to as a trade war. This crisis has engulfed America’s adversaries and shown serious implications towards her allies as well.

The future of international aid and technical cooperation between the North and the South has also emerged as a major issue. Many countries in the South, Zambia included,that were heavily depended on international aid for budget support have been heavily affected. In reference to Dambisa Moyo’s Book “Dead Aid”, where she points out donor fatigue and failing resources, sighting challenges such as ill utilization of donor resources, inefficient results and misuse of donor funds. He pointed out that the most urgent issue at hand is how a country like Zambia responds to the closure of USAID.

Dr Mutukwa called for Zambia to prioritize the consideration and debate on what should be done to fill the gap that will continue to be faced with the decline in international aid. Is it not time that Zambia considered to exploit its own resources especially minerals to generate its own revenues and to become self-reliant?

It is therefore, urgent to revisit the content of what is called ‘economic diplomacy’ in its relations with other countries and international economic groupings. There is also urgent need to revise Zambia’s trade relations with other countries and economic cooperation with neighbors in SADC and COMESA.

The agenda suggested above, he continued, should also be for consideration by the AU and SADC so as to align them with the changing realities in international relations. The UN Economic Commission would also be well advised to review their strategies on providing technical assistance to countries like Zambia to realign their programs.

Opportunities for Zambia

He went on to note that a number of developments in the world can also present themselves as opportunities for Zambia to re-strategize and utilize its enormous natural resources endowments and it’s abundant human resources capital of professionals both from within the country and outside in the diaspora. Many of the Zambians in the diaspora are accomplished professionals who hold technical and professional positions in many sectors of economies in Africa and abroad. These could form a major contributor in transforming Zambia’s fortunes by using their experiences. It should be noted further that the growing phenomena of anti-immigration in the global North and anti-foreigners in some developed countries should be a wake-up call to our country to grow our economies and employment opportunities and to lessen dependence on others. It is only with these measures that we can develop mutual relations of mutual cooperation.

Mr Walter Kasempa shared insights  on ” Zambia’s Foreign Policy Outlook in the Current Geopolitical Changes”, highlighting Zambia’s evolution from liberation diplomacy to economic diplomacy, he discussed how geopolitical shifts like the U.S – China trade war impact Zambia’s strategic partnerships. He also emphasised Zambia’s positive neutrality and land-linked positions as great advantages that enable her to stand out as a regional hub, sighting the AU FMP and AfCFTA’s potential to boost intra African trade.

Mr Boyd Muleya, assistant director of development cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the government’s support for continued cooperation.

Ambassador Han Jin, the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia delivered an interesting speech on “Securing a shared future for man-kind thought diplomacy in the prevailing geopolitical changes”. He emphasized unity and collaboration as the key to a promising future. The international community, particularly the Global South, must unite in self-strengthening, enhance coordination, defend shared interests, uphold true multilateralism, and jointly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime. Together, we must advance an equal and orderly multipolar world, promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

No matter how the international situation changes, He underlined, as the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China will continue to advance high-standard opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up in rules, regulations, management and standards, implement high-standard policies for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, foster a first-class market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. China will share development opportunities with the rest of the world to achieve mutual benefits. By leveraging its own growth, China aims to inject certainty to the world economy to counter global uncertainties. China, He reassured, will remain a reliable engine for world economic growth.

For African countries striving for development and revitalization, a free and open multilateral trading system is of vital importance, and a stable and cooperative international environment is indispensable. History has proved that China is a trustworthy and predictable friend and partner of African countries. At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, China announced unilateral market opening, giving all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step, turning its vast market into Africa’s vast opportunity.

The year 2025 will witness real efforts to implement the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit. Taking Zambia for example, Ambassador Jin stated that, China-Zambia cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, green energy, health care, education and other fields is flourishing, and the TAZARA revitalization project has made substantial progress. China stands ready to work with Zambia to implement the consensus reached by the Heads of State, to deliver on the Ten Partnership Actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, including supporting Zambia in accelerating its industrialization and agricultural modernization, implementing zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, fostering new growth drivers such as digital, green and AI industries, and executing more China-aid projects in food security, water supply, health care, among other areas. 

The China-Zambia Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership is built on mutual trust and win-win cooperation, and so should all other state-to-state relations. To the Chinese, a promise is a promise. China, he continued, honors its commitment to the African Continent, and will always aim for an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Follwing Ambassadors Jin’s address, the event transitioned into a dynamic panel discussion featuring trade and industrial policy expert- Mr. Lewis Chimfwembe, Zids Director- Mr. William Njombo, International Relations Lecturer- Mr. Blessings Mataka and independent thought leader- Mr James Blewett. The Panel explored the dangers of unilateralism and protectionism in a free trade economy, the impact of USAID withdraw on Zambia’s civil society organizations and the importance of preserving the practise of diplomacy amid the vast increase of disinformation and misinformation across boarders.

Dr. Fredrick Mutesa gave the final speech on what Zambia’s economic and global strategy should be for the current geopolitical changes. Stating five key issues, he proposed that going forward, Zambia must always keep in focus its core interests of peace and development. Zambia must stand on the side of multilateralism and ensure that she has a strong voice in regional, continental and global platforms. Zambia should also take a proactive policy of positive neutrality that responds swiftly and appropriately to emerging trends, crisis and opportunities. Zambia must continue to provide moral leadership that made her a front-line state in Southern Africa as history records. Zambia offers critical minerals and important natural resources relevant to the technological revolution, as such, she must leverage her abundant resources to get deals that advance her core interests. Zambia’s strengths, he concluded, also extend to human capital both at home and in the diaspora, these must be harnessed and promoted.                                       

The roundtable featured interactive dialogue between the speakers and the audience. The event came to a close with a reaffirmation of IRAZ’s commitment to independent engagement in non-partisan discussions, debates, dialogue and networking through both formal and informal diplomacy among representatives from various countries in Zambia.

IRAZ expresses its gratitude to all participants, speakers and partners who made the second edition of the Diplomats’ Round-table meeting a success.