Asian nations keen to assist Zimbabwe

Asian nations keen to assist Zimbabwe
Thursday, 8 January 2004
Zimbabwe Herald Deputy News Editor

President Mugabe, who is on a private visit to Asia, has met
the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia to discuss the
strengthening of relations between Zimbabwe and the two
countries.

In a statement, the Department of Information and Publicity
in the Office of the President and Cabinet said Cde Mugabe
met Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday
at the end of his week-long visit to Malaysia.

Cde Mugabe is on his annual leave until the end of this
month.

The meeting was the first one between the two leaders since
the appointment of Mr Badawi in October last year following
the resignation of Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

Talks between the two leaders focused on strengthening
bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Malaysia.

Issues discussed included Zimbabwe's request for technical
assistance from Malaysia's central bank, Bank Negara, for the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe during its restructuring phase.

"The Malaysian Prime Minister said that his country would be
too happy to facilitate the request as well as assist in
other areas of expertise in other economic sectors like
agriculture," the department said.

Prime Minister Badawi also used the opportunity to assure
President Mugabe that his government would continue to
maintain the policies of his predecessor and would do all he
could to strengthen relations between the two countries.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international issues
including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held
in Abuja, Nigeria, last month.

President Mugabe explained how Zimbabwe had never had good
relations with Britain ever since Prime Minister Tony Blair
took office.

"The President spoke about Blair's persistent efforts to
portray Zimbabwe to the outside world, particularly Europe
and America, as a rogue state when he realised that there was
no going back on the country's land acquisition programme.
Zimbabwe refused to be re-colonised and pulled out of the
Commonwealth."

Prime Minister Badawi, in turn, said his government
understands fully the rationale behind Zimbabwe's decision to
pull out of the Commonwealth.

In a related matter, the First Family arrived in Jakarta,
Indonesia, yesterday on a three-day private visit and
President Mugabe paid a courtesy call on his Indonesian %0l as assist in
other areas of expertise in other economic sectors like
agriculture," the department said.

Prime Minister Badawi also used the opportunity to assure
President Mugabe that his government would continue to
maintain the policies of his predecessor and would do all he
could to strengthen relations between the two countries.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international issues
including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held
in Abuja, Nigeria, last month.

President Mugabe explained how Zimbabwe had never had good
relations with Britain ever since Prime Minister Tony Blair
took office.

"The President spoke about Blair's persistent efforts to
portray Zimbabwe to the outside world, particularly Europe
and America, as a rogue state when he realised that there was
no going back on the country's land acquisition programme.
Zimbabwe refused to be re-colonised and pulled out of the
Commonwealth."

Prime Minister Badawi, in turn, said his government
understands fully the rationale behind Zimbabwe's decision to
pull out of the Commonwealth.

In a related matter, the First Family arrived in Jakarta,
Indonesia, yesterday on a three-day private visit and
President Mugabe paid a courtesy call on his Indonesian
counterpart President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

The two leaders' meeting centred on strengthening of
bilateral relations between their countries.

"The discussions between the two leaders again focused on re-
strengthening bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and
Indonesia, particularly the need for Zimbabwe to open an
embassy in Jakarta."

President Mugabe assured his counterpart that Zimbabwe would
open an embassy in Jakarta during the course of this year.

Indonesia already has an embassy in Harare while Zimbabwe's
interests in the country are represented by its embassy in
Kuala Lumpur.

President Megawati invited Cde Mugabe to undertake a State
visit to Indonesia, which was readily accepted.

According to news agency reports, President Megawati also
invited Cde Mugabe to attend the 50th anniversary
commemoration of the Asia-Africa Summit at Bandung in West
Java in April next year.

She also informed the President that an Indonesian trade
delegation would be visiting Zimbabwe soon to explore further
areas of co-operation with particular interest in the
agricultural sector.

Yesterday evening the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and
Industry was to host a dinner for the First Family to
introduce Indonesian business people who are keen to engage Acounterpart President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

The two leaders' meeting centred on strengthening of
bilateral relations between their countries.

"The discussions between the two leaders again focused on re-
strengthening bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and
Indonesia, particularly the need for Zimbabwe to open an
embassy in Jakarta."

President Mugabe assured his counterpart that Zimbabwe would
open an embassy in Jakarta during the course of this year.

Indonesia already has an embassy in Harare while Zimbabwe's
interests in the country are represented by its embassy in
Kuala Lumpur.

President Megawati invited Cde Mugabe to undertake a State
visit to Indonesia, which was readily accepted.

According to news agency reports, President Megawati also
invited Cde Mugabe to attend the 50th anniversary
commemoration of the Asia-Africa Summit at Bandung in West
Java in April next year.

She also informed the President that an Indonesian trade
delegation would be visiting Zimbabwe soon to explore further
areas of co-operation with particular interest in the
agricultural sector.

Yesterday evening the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and
Industry was to host a dinner for the First Family to
introduce Indonesian business people who are keen to engage
their Zimbabwean counterparts in tobacco growing and trade to
President Mugabe.

"The Indonesians are also proposing that a bilateral
agreement be arranged to enable the two countries to barter
their products as a way of going round the problem of foreign
currency shortages facing both countries."

News agency reports quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayuda as saying the two leaders also discussed issues in
Zimbabwe such as the land reform programme and the country's
pullout from the Commonwealth.

President Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas and Environment
Minister Nabiel Makarim also attended the talks.