Zim takes engagement agenda to the Arab world

Harare (New Ziana) – The government, which is pursuing a vigorous engagement and re-engagement policy to re-integrate the country into the global community of nations after two decades of isolation will take the campaign to the Arab world next month, at a key summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Riyadh Africa-Arab summit is the fifth of its kind to be held between the two regions and aims to explore areas of possible cooperation especially in trade and investment.

The last Arab-Africa summit was held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in 2016.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe had been invited to the prestigious summit.

“Furthermore, Zimbabwe was invited to the Africa-Arab summit to be held in Saudi Arabia on 16 March 2020,” she said during a post Cabinet briefing.

The summit is expected to discuss a wide range of issues including reviewing spheres of Afro-Arab cooperation, relations between the two sides and coordination in regional and international forums on issues of mutual concern.

The meeting will also follow up on implementation of resolutions made in the previous summit held in Malabo while also building foundations of respect, trust and common interest.

It will also focus on finding common grounds on economic and sustainable development cooperation.

Zimbabwe already enjoys cordial relations with the Arab world having cooperated with countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in various sectors including health and agriculture.

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe had also been invited to attend the Dubai Expo 2020 in the UAE.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Sibusiso Moyo) held bilateral engagements (at the just ended African Union summit) with the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Her Excellency Mrs Reem Al Hashiny. The outcomes of the discussions are that Zimbabwe was invited to participate at the 2020 world exposition, Expo 2020 to be held in Dubai from 20 October 2020 to 10 April, 2021,” she said.

“The Minister appealed to Zimbabwe to capitalise on the Expo 2020 as this was a good opportunity for the country to market itself. The UAE minister pledged to financially assist artists from Zimbabwe to exhibit at Expo 2020.”

Expo 2020 will be a celebration of human brilliance and achievement and an opportunity for people to connect from different corners of the world, to experience the best of art, culture, geography, science, technology, innovation and invention and to set into motion millions of new thoughts and ideas.

Expo 2020 also coincides with the UAE’s 50th anniversary in 2021, marking an important milestone for the UAE.
New Ziana