Zimbabwe’s top diplomat hails 'win-win basis' relations with Türkiye

ANKARA (AA) - Zimbabwe’s acting foreign and international trade minister hailed on Thursday the country’s close ties with Türkiye as both states marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

“As we mark this important day we are pleased with the energy and enthusiasm shown by the people of Turkey and Zimbabwe to exploit the vast trade, investment and tourism opportunities that exist in both countries,” OppahMuchinguri-Kashiri said in a statement.

She underlined that Türkiye, "as it has done in several African countries, is ready to cooperate with Zimbabwe on a mutually beneficial win-win basis."

Kashiri said Türkiye’s move to open its embassy in the capital Harare in 2011 underlined “the growing relations between our two countries which date back to the time of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.”

“This development symbolized Turkey’s increased foreign policy focus on Africa through the Turkey/Africa Partnership arrangement which started with the inaugural Summit meeting that was held in 2008 in Istanbul,” Kashiri said.

In line with its engagement and re-engagement policy, Zimbabwe opened its a resident embassy in Ankara in 2019, which “gave further impetus to the already existing excellent relations,” she said.

“Business people in both countries are strongly urged to take advantage of the existing opportunities and synergies to strengthen economic relations whilst the two governments are in the process of concluding the legal frameworks that will create a conducive business environment,” the minister added.

According to her, several memoranda of understanding and agreements on cooperation in many sectors have been discussed and finalized, and only await signing at the appropriate time.