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Mr Sergey V Bakharov of Russia, Mr Asaf Khan from Pakistan and Ms Winnie Anna Kiap of Papua New Guinea pledged to improve relations between Zimbabwe and their respective countries during their tour of duty here.
Speaking to the media after separate meetings with President Mugabe, Mr Bakharov, Mr Khan and Ms Kiap said economic co-operation between Zimbabwe and their countries was their primary objective.
First to present his credentials was Ambassador Bakharov who pledged to see cordial political co-operation result in improved economic relations between Harare and Moscow.
“We enjoy excellent political dialogue,” said Ambassador Bakharov after the meeting.
“My major task as I said when I was discussing with His Excellency, the President, is to boost and scale up our economic ties because they are lagging behind our political co-operation. First and foremost, I will try to speed up our trade and economic co-operation. I hope that our efforts will reach that goal.”
Ambassador Bakharov said Zimbabwe and Russia have common interests despite the huge distance that separated them. Russia and China vetoed a resolution that sought the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Khan, who has been in Zimbabwe for the past two weeks, said he would concentrate on identifying possible areas of economic co-operation between Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
“I am here to explore ideas and work on them to improve economic ties between our two countries.
“Our meeting (with President Mugabe) went very well. The President was very appreciative of the consistent relationship that exists between the two countries,” said Pakistan’s incoming ambassador.
While ambassadors Bakharev and Khan presented their credentials on behalf of their country’s leaders, Ms Kiap did it on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Papua New Guinea — a small island in the Pacific Ocean is a constitutional monarchy with The Queen as head of state after it became a British Protectorate in 1884.
Ambassador Kiap who is the first diplomat from her country to Zimbabwe said the relationship between Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea was established in 1998.
“It’s my intention, since I am the first one to come, to do something to take the relationship forward so I will have to work with the Government to see what areas of interest both countries can develop.
Mostly perhaps economic areas though it’s a bit difficult because of distance,” she said.
Ambassador Kiap said Zimbabwe and her country would have co-operated better on the political front if the former was still in the Commonwealth.
She, however, acknowledged that there was nothing her country was benefiting from the Commonwealth besides relying on aid from Western countries.
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Zimbabwe pulled out from the Commonwealth in 2002 after the club of former British colonies decided to extend the country’s suspension at the behest of former British and Australian Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Howard.
Online Reporter