12/03/2012 (Zambia Daily Mail) - The Zambia-Kenya Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) has identified gender, security and energy as new priority areas of co-operation between the two countries.

This is contained in a joint communiqué released by the two countries at the end of the eighth session held in Lusaka.

The Zambian delegation was led by Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training John Phiri while the Kenyan team was led by that country’s Minister for Trade Chirau Mwakwere.

The two heads of delegation expressed satisfaction with the warm relations between the two countries and also agreed to revive discussions and development of a bilateral trade on milk and its products.

They emphasised the need to resolve outstanding issues on milk, milk products and palm-based oil, which is affecting bilateral trade between the two countries.

During the two-day session, the two delegations discussed ways of enhancing bilateral and technical co-operation between the two countries by supporting each other in trade and industry, education, labour, justice, crime prevention and mining through exchange programmes and information.

And Dr Phiri said he is happy that the bilateral co-operation between Zambia and Kenya has been broadened by the inclusion of new areas, which include gender, security and energy.

]“I wish to appeal to the monitoring authorities in the two countries to implement the follow-up mechanism agreed at this session,” Dr Phiri said.

He urged the two delegations to ensure that the activities projected in the minutes are factored in sectoral plans to apportion appropriate resources for effective implementation of the resolutions.

And Mr Mwakwere said the JPC is a useful and pragmatic mechanism to advance bilateral relations.

“I am encouraged by the commitment shown at this meeting in reviewing co-operation in critical areas such as trade and investment. The deliberations also addressed new and important areas of co-operation such as co-operative development and gender issues,” he said.

Mr Mwakwere promised that his delegation, in conjunction with the relevant ministries and agencies in Kenya, will ensure that the resolutions of the Lusaka meeting are implemented.