THE Finnish government has urged the opposition in Zambia to work with the ruling party for the sake of developing the nation.

Finnish Ambassador to Zambia, Pertti Anttinen said those in political parties should learn that working across party lines was important.

Speaking to journalists in Livingstone on Thursday night, the Finnish envoy said if political parties in the ruling and opposition parties worked together, they would achieve better results in terms of developing the country.

"People should work across party lines as working together as political parties is the way to go for national development," he said.

He called for renewed mutual trust among the political players so that the nation could develop.

Mr Anttinen urged Zambians to maintain the multi-party system of democracy and that his country had the same system.

He said Zambia was the best example in the region where peaceful elections could be held and power transferred peacefully.

He said the Government should be given more time to manage the country as it was new in governance.

Mr anttinen pledged that his country would continue to support the new Government in areas of good governance like the fight against corruption.

He said the Government had shown commitment to the fight against corruption and that his Government in Finland was impressed.

"We shall continue to give the Zambian Government our mutual support as they are new in the governance of the country as we shall help to strengthen Government institutions through development cooperation," he said.

Finland would give budgetary support to Zambia in next year's Budget so that it helped in preparations for the forthcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference.

"Everybody is focusing on the UNWTO, and we want to ensure that Zambia is successful in hosting of the event," he said.

His country would also continue to support the agriculture and the environment sectors with a special focus on the forestry department.