Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said Friday Zambia and southern neighbor Namibia should further strengthen trade relationship, so as to benefit the people of the two country.

"We should increase not only the interaction but also the trade between us," said Mwanawasa while he was meeting with visiting Namibian President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, who was invited by the Zambian government to officially open the country's Agriculture and Commercial Show on Saturday.

Mwanawasa said the Katima Mulilo Road and Bridge linking the two countries opened means of communication for their people and at the same time increased trade of goods and services.

He said the infrastructure, which had great potential, should be made full use of so as to further promote trade relations between the two countries.

President Pohamba commended what Zambian people had done in helping other countries in the area, including Namibia, to gain their freedom and independence.

He said southern African countries are now able to enjoy freedom because of Zambia's immense contribution toward liberalization.

"Zambia to us Namibian is a country that we can never forget," said Pohamba, who arrived in Zambia Friday afternoon accompanied by his ministers of commerce and presidential affairs and other government officials.

Source: Xinhua