Zambia has reaffirmed its strong bilateral relations with Japan following a meeting between Vice President Dr. W.K. Mutale-Nalumango and the Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency Takeuchi Kazuyuki. The engagement built on the outcomes of the Vice President’s recent official visit to Japan, highlighting shared goals in economic growth and sustainable development.
During the meeting, both parties underscored the importance of advancing joint initiatives in areas of strategic significance to the two nations. Agriculture emerged as a central focus, with Japan pledging to roll out a new support programme by next month. The initiative is designed to strengthen Zambia’s agricultural systems, improve productivity, and promote sustainable practices within the sector.
Vice President Mutale-Nalumango noted that this commitment aligns with Zambia’s broader efforts to achieve food security and economic diversification. She stressed that partnerships like this are vital to ensuring that smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the agricultural sector, can access modern tools, knowledge, and resources to boost yields and incomes.
Ambassador Takeuchi also used the meeting to engage the Zambian Government on the outcomes of the recently concluded Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). He sought Zambia’s perspectives on how Japan could better align the conference agenda with Africa’s priorities, reflecting Tokyo’s openness to shaping cooperation in line with regional needs.
The Vice President welcomed this dialogue, emphasizing that Zambia values TICAD as a platform that strengthens Africa-Japan cooperation in trade, investment, and human capital development. She said the willingness of Japan to listen and adapt demonstrates the strength of the relationship.
The forthcoming agricultural programme is expected to reinforce Zambia’s development agenda, supporting innovation and resilience in food production. Both governments agreed that continued collaboration will be key to delivering tangible benefits for citizens while building a future of shared prosperity.
Vice President Mutale-Nalumango concluded by highlighting the government’s appreciation for Japan’s consistent support and reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to nurturing the partnership for long-term growth.