Sata arrives in Rio

Sata arrives in Rio
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Wed 20 June 2012, 13:25 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday arrived in the Brazilian capital Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations' largest-ever conference of 50,000 participants who are expected to discuss sustainable development.

President Sata, who was accompanied by his wife Dr Christine Kaseba-Sata, arrived at Rio International Airport at about 20:50 local time for the conference expected to open tomorrow and close on June 22.

President Sata, who arrived aboard a British Airways flight from London's Heathrow Airport, is leading a Zambian delegation which includes two opposition leaders - Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi and National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo, environment minister Wylbur Simuusa, foreign affairs minister Given Lubinda and his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.

The conference dubbed "Rio+20" is focused to discuss sustainable development and among its strong 50,000 participants include delegates, environmental activists, business leaders and members of indigenous groups.

The conference closes on Friday with three final days of high-profile talks among about 130 top leaders from nations around the globe.

The conference to be officially opened by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is also expected to be attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who is heading the US delegation.

Rio+20 is a follow-up to an environmental summit held in Rio in 1992.

Sustainable development aims to find more environmentally healthy ways to achieve economic growth.