LUSAKA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have started talks aimed at enhancing cooperation on shared water bodies, Zambian Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Mike Mposha said Wednesday.
The talks involve the establishment of a special vehicle that will be managing the Luapula River co-shared by the two countries, the minister said, adding that the consultative process on the subject has reached an advanced stage.
The Zambian government has embarked on a process of accession to the United Nations Water Convention as a prerequisite for establishing a cooperative agreement with the DRC on the shared waters, Mposha said.
"Once the UN Water Convention accession process as well as the establishment of Luapula River Authority are completed, this will enhance transboundary and international water cooperation and unlock investment opportunities that will spur social economic activities and ecosystem protection," he told a press briefing.
The move, he added, will also allow Zambia to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of the shared water resources for productive use, considering the critical role that transboundary water cooperation plays in fostering social economic development. ■
