On April 17, Mr. Chen Wendi, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Somalia, paid a courtesy call on Somali Foreign Minister H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in Mogadishu.

The two sides exchanged views on jointly implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to strengthen the traditional friendship and deepen cooperation in various fields.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

On April 17, a delegation of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa led by Patriarchal Exarch of Africa, Metropolitan Konstantin of Zaraisk arrived to Zambia on a 5-day visit.

During the visit, the Exarch met with Russian Ambassador to Zambia A.Yarakhmedov to discuss the construction of an Orthodox Christian church in Lusaka and conducted the Divine Liturgy at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture for the employees of the Embassy, compatriots and Zambian citizens.

Negotiations with the representatives of the Lusaka City Council and trips to Kitwe and Ndola of the Copperbelt province are also planned.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and CGIAR, have renewed their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), to strengthen food and nutrition security in Zambia as the country grapples with a widespread El Niño induced drought and the climate crisis.

The partnership implemented under CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) will focus on four key areas: climate services such as co-developments and improvements to Zambia’s e-Extension system, index insurance, early warning and anticipatory action, and climate security.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with CGIAR at the regional level to strengthen food and nutrition security at a time when Zambia is devastated by prolonged drought,” said Cissy Byenkya, WFP Country Director in Zambia. “Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen the climate resilience of smallholder farmers, help them to better cope with climate extremes and limit crop losses and support food and nutrition security.”

In March 2024, Zambia declared a state of emergency due to the El Niño induced drought, with 84 out of 116 districts and more than one million farming families affected, plunging the country into food and nutrition insecurity.

“The Climate Resilience Initiative demonstrates CGIAR’s commitment to the people of Zambia in supporting the implementation of its National Adaptation Plan and Vision 2030,” said Dr. Ana Maria Loboguerrero, CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience Lead. “We are proud to work together with WFP to build climate resilience locally; partnerships such as this reflect our commitment to co-create a sustainable and resilient future in Zambia through a combination of digital innovations, capacity strengthening mechanisms, and access to accurate and timely climate information for more informed decision making.”

The collaboration between WFP and the CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience shows the benefits of humanitarian organisations and agri-food research centres working together to address current and future food system challenges.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

The EU foreign and defence ministers will debate Russian aggression against Ukraine in their joint session. The ministers will focus on the EU’s military support for Ukraine, the security commitments and the development of the defence industry.

“Supporting Ukraine is extremely important to us. Finland has provided security commitments for Ukraine, and we will continue our active support accordingly. Finland’s bilateral military support has already reached EUR two billion,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen.

With regard to the situation in the Middle East, the foreign ministers will discuss the increasingly tense regional situation, the role of the EU, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, access to humanitarian aid and the revival of the political peace process.

“The dangerously heightened tensions in the Middle East need to be de-escalated. The situation is a cause for grave concern. We hope that both parties will refrain from any action that may heighten tensions further. As far as Gaza is concerned, we support a swift humanitarian ceasefire, full access to aid and immediate release of hostages,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen.

The discussion on Sudan will focus on the humanitarian situation, which has deteriorated during Sudan’s year-long conflict, the serious threat posed by the conflict to regional stability and the EU’s measures to support ceasefire and mediation efforts.

Minister Valtonen will also attend a high-level security and cooperation forum, to be held in connection with the Council meeting, with the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.