On 7 March 2023, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Zimbabwe held their political consultations in Harare.
The Head of the Bilateral Relations Directorate at the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nils Jansons, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, James Manzou, discussed cooperation between the two countries, with a special focus on the potential role of agriculture in fostering economic cooperation and experience sharing between Latvia and Zimbabwe. Other areas highlighted were digitalisation, education and the fight against climate change as well as the ways to cooperate in international organisations. Nils Jansons welcomed the measures taken by the Zimbabwean government to address the challenges that have long constrained the relations between the European Union and Zimbabwe, and he called for building on what had been initiated.
The representative of Latvia also drew attention to the negative impact of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on the international order, which was creating a dangerous precedent.
The officials agreed to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a mechanism for political consultations to maintain a regular dialogue in the future.
During the visit, the Latvian delegation met with the Head of the EU Mission to Zimbabwe, the President of the Zimbabwean Parliament, the acting Foreign Minister, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality of Zimbabwe, representatives from the National Trade Development and Promotion Organisation, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe.