CONAKRY – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday expressed confidence that blossoming relations between Zimbabwe and Guinea would translate to greater economic cooperation.
Speaking at a dinner held in his honour by his counterpart, Alpha Conde, President Mnangagwa said the two nations should speak with one voice at forums such as the African Union and the United Nations.
“I am confident that the friendship and fraternal relations will translate into strong economic ties through our bilateral relations as well as the various frameworks within the African Union and United Nations.
“As we work together, towards a common vision and shared future for our people, let us continue to honour the vision encapsulated by the ideological teachings of our founding fathers of the African continent.
We must thus continue to strive to work tirelessly towards a united, free, peaceful and prosperous Africa,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Guinea signed four memoranda of agreements aimed at creating a framework for diplomatic cooperation.
These are – the framework agreement of cooperation, agreement on the establishment of a joint commission, agreement on reciprocal exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports and memorandum of understanding for the establishment of political and diplomatic consultation between the two ministries in charge of Foreign Affairs.
President Mnangagwa said the agreements mark the framework for furthering and deepening cooperation.
“This decoration is indeed a momentous occasion, in relations of our two countries and of great value to me personally. May we continue in this spirit of brotherliness and togetherness as we journey towards uplifting the quality of life of our people and the economic prosperity of our two countries,” he said.
Speaking through an interpreter, President Conde commended the first visit from his Zimbabwean counterpart.
In a communiqué released at the end of the visit, the two countries agreed to exchange experts in agriculture and to explore opportunities in mining, technical cooperation and tourism.
The two leaders also welcomed the principle of speaking with one voice on all regional and international forums.
At the end of the State visit, President Mnangagwa extended an invitation to President Conde to visit Zimbabwe.
President Conde accepted the invitation. – New Ziana