President Rupiah Banda is in Turkey to attend the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The President, who has been invited by his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, will be among other world leaders attending the conference that opens on Monday.
President Banda arrived on Sunday at Ataturk International airport at about 18:23hours Zambian time.
He was welcomed by the deputy Governor of Istanbul Ahmed Ayoin, Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala, Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany Johnston Chizinga and Turkish ambassador to Zambia Ahmet Arda.
The President is accompanied by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane.
President Banda is expected to address the Conference being held at Istanbul Congress Centre.
The President will also hold bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
The Fourth United Nations Conference on LDCs is an important forum for Zambia and other LDCs as well as cooperating partners to re-examine the development strategy in view of the existing and emerging global challenges and existing poverty.
Hundreds of delegates from Governments, private sector, business associations, civil society, and international organizations that include the United Nations system are attending the conference.
The conference will among other things assess the results of the 10-year action plan for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) which was adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on LDCs in Brussels, Belgium, in 2001.
The President is also expected to hold bilateral talks with other leaders on the sidelines of the Conference.
Benefits
President Banda says Zambia will reap great economic benefits from its deepening relations with Turkey.
President Banda says Turkey is an important and strategic country that Zambia needs to develop and strengthen its economy.
Mr. Banda was speaking at Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure for Turkey, where he is attending a forum on Least Developing Countries.
He says his government has sent a powerful delegation covering different ministries and various stakeholders ahead of the forum.
President Banda was seen-off by Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa, MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe, Service Chiefs and other senior government and MMD officials.
And Dr. Musokotwane expressed satisfaction that Turkey’s interest in Zambia has continued to rise sharply.
RB on Sata
Meanwhile president Rupiah Banda says Patriotic Front-PF Leader Michael Sata’s trip to the United Kingdom-UK is fake.
President Banda says it is also not correct that Mr. Sata was invited by the Oxford University.
Mr. Banda says contrary to the assertions, he has information from UK that the PF Leader was invited by a small study group.
The President was responding to Journalists at the Lusaka International Airport, shortly before departure for Turkey on Sunday.
Mr. Banda says his government remains focused on delivering on its promise.
He expressed satisfaction that results of government’s social and economic policies are beginning to show.
Meanwhile, President Banda says Former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti’s political tricks have caught up with.
Mr. Banda says Mr Mulongoti’s remarks that Zambians want change are words of a frustrated man.
The President wondered why Mr. Mulongoti waited until he was sacked if he felt the ruling party was losing this year’s elections.
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