Speaking at the launch of the programme in Lusaka, State Secretary Radek Rubeš said, "Over the next four years, the Czechia will help Zambia get the right data and formulate policies that will help with biodiversity conservation and integrated landscape management, which is heavily burdened by climate change, soil erosion and deforestation. In developing such a complex project, I consider it essential that the Czechia, together with other European countries, work together to strengthen environmental protection," said State Secretary Rubeš.

The project "Sustainable Landscape through Integrated Management", called SLIM, is being implemented by the Czech Development Agency in Zambia from October 2023 to 2027. The project works with a budget of EUR 7 million (EUR 6 million from the European Union, EUR 1 million from the Czech Republic) and is expected to see a wide application of Czech technological solutions and expertise in satellite landscape mapping, capacity building of Zambian public institutions and schools and forestry. 

During his working visit to Zambia, State Secretary Radek Rubeš met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Zambia, Ms. Etambuya Gundersen. During the meeting, the State Secretary highlighted the dynamically developing Czech-Zambian bilateral relationship and pointed to the recent visit of the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Miloš Vystrčil, with a business delegation, which culminated in the signing of two important Memoranda of Understanding on development cooperation and the MEDEVAC programme. 

In this context, the Zambian side once again appreciated Czechia for its long-term cooperation, which is growing not only thanks to joint European projects. In the context of the catastrophic drought affecting Zambia, the Permanent Secretary also thanked the Czechia for the immediate humanitarian aid of 5 million Czech cromwns and expressed interest in Czech solutions in the field of water retention in the landscape and renewable energy sources. 
In the context of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the Secretary of State commended the position that Zambia had repeatedly taken at the UN General Assembly. "Zambia sees this conflict as a clear violation of the UN Charter. We aspire to peace and stability, without which an economy cannot develop," said Permanent Secretary Gundersen.