SOME diplomats accredited to Zambia have said time has now come for African Governments to focus on sustained economic development and plan for the future.

Irish, Italian and Chinese ambassadors to Zambia said this in separate interviews during this year's Africa Freedom Day celebrations at State House yesterday.

Irish Ambassador to Zambia, Bill Nolan said there was need for African Governments including Zambia to plan ahead for future development.

Mr Nolan said much as the continent was commemorating the important day of political emancipation, there was need to focus on economic growth, good governance and put up a 50-year plan which would benefit the younger generation.

"There is little talk being given for the next 50 years. We need to celebrate the past and think about the future," he said.

Mr Nolan said Zambia and Ireland had continued to enjoy good bilateral relations, which could be traced as far back as the pre-independence days.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said his government was happy with the pace at which Zambia's development was taking place.

Mr Li said Africa, as a whole should speed up its economic growth rate so that the lives of ordinary citizens could be improved.

He said more Chinese investors would continue investing in Zambia because it had good investment policies.

He said the investments by the Chinese at the Luanshya and Chambishi copper mines were a clear testimony of the confidence his country had in Zambia's economic development.

"We need to do business here in Zambia as it has a very stable economy," he said.

Italian Ambassador to Zambia Giovanni Ceruti said there was need for more integration amongst African countries to boost trade.

He said African countries should move beyond political integration.

He was happy to note that regional integration though the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa was beginning to tackle the problem of trade barriers.

Mr Ceruti said agriculture was another sector which the African countries, especially Zambia, could explore because it had enough arable land and water.

Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Tore Gjos commended South Africa and Malawi for conducting peaceful presidential elections recently.

Mr Gjos said he was happy that there were fewer conflicts now in Africa and called for the peaceful resolution to the fighting in Sudan.