HARARE, October 7 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and Zimbabwe agreed to revive their intergovernmental commission on economic, trade, scientific and technical cooperation.
Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, exchanged diplomatic notes with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, during his first visit to the African country.
“We seek constructive dialogue and are ready to build deep economic relations,” Manturov said. “We will take efforts to boost our bilateral trade. And this (a decision to resume the work of the intergovernmental commission – Itar-Tass) is that very fact, which our companies have been waiting for their investments to be supported in Zimbabwe.”
The two countries, whose relations have been developing over the past thirty years, have “a very good political platform.”
“But we need to enhance the two countries’ economies and we arrived in Zimbabwe to discuss in detail the bilateral cooperation projects,” he said.
Russia’s investors are interested in stepping up cooperation in such areas as Zimbabwe’s mining and metallurgic industry, hydrocarbons delivery, export of mining equipment, motor vehicles, planes and helicopters.
Moreover, Russia seeks to develop military and technical cooperation with the African countries.
“Military and technical cooperation would be a reliable and right direction in our countries’ cooperation, especially taking into account the fact that the Soviet Union and Russia supplied military hardware to Zimbabwe and the African countries’ servicemen know it quite well,” Manturov said.
Mumbengegwi said in turn his country highly appreciates Russia’s efforts against imposing the UN sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The revival of the intergovernmental commission is not the act of friendship, it is a serious step towards full-fledged cooperation in economy and politics, the African diplomat said.