Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
THE Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, yesterday met Belarus Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yuri Nikalaichyk at Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, where they discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic co-operation and enhancing parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.
The meeting followed Adv Mudenda’s recent visit to Belarus, where he participated in the Belarus Political Party Second International Conference on State Sovereignty and Principles of International Relations.
Speaking after the meeting, Ambassador Nikalaichyk said the discussions were productive and covered a broad range of issues aimed at deepening co-operation between Harare and Minsk.
“Today we had a very productive and very open exchange of views with the Honourable Speaker,” he said.
“It coincided that I had an opportunity to get his impressions from his recent visit to Belarus, from his meeting with his colleague, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Belarus Parliament Mr Igor Sergeiyenko, and his participation in the Political Parties Conference where he represented Zanu PF.”
Ambassador Nikalaichyk said they also reviewed progress in parliamentary diplomacy and co-operation between the ruling parties of both countries.
He added that they exchanged views on a range of relations, including inter-parliamentary contacts and contacts between the ruling parties.
“We exchanged views on issues of further strengthening people-to-people contacts, including tourism and educational exchanges.
“We elaborated a lot on further economic development and we discussed the possibility of enhancing our co-operation in agricultural mechanisation, in strengthening the food security of Zimbabwe, collaborating in the energy sector and in healthcare,” Ambassador Nikalaichyk said.
He said discussions also focused on the implementation and ratification of bilateral agreements aimed at boosting trade and investment.
Ambassador Nikalaichyk highlighted the importance of accelerating progress on outstanding agreements, particularly those related to investment promotion and protection.
“We also exchanged views on the ratification of bilateral agreements and the necessity to make progress in this field, especially when it comes to the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.
“We discussed issues of simplifying trade regimes that exist between Belarus, as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, and Zimbabwe.
“I handed the Speaker a paper on the Belarus initiative to launch negotiations on a preferential trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Zimbabwe, and we got his valuable consent to start the technical work on this matter as early as possible,” said Ambassador Nikalaichyk.
Zimbabwe and Belarus have in recent years strengthened co-operation in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, energy, transport and education, with both countries pursuing deeper economic and diplomatic engagement.
High-level visits have occurred between the two countries, with President Mnangagwa travelling to Belarus on a State visit, while the Eurasian country’s President, Aleksandr Lukashenko, paid a historic three-day State visit to Zimbabwe from January 30 to February 1, 2023.
