By ZBC Reporter
A parliamentary delegation from Zimbabwe led by Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Advocate Jacob Mudenda has met the Honourable Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today in the Indian Parliament House.
Welcoming the delegation, Honourable Shri Dhankhar said that he shared a strong fraternal feeling as, like him, the leader of the visiting delegation is an Advocate by profession and also a former Governor of a Province.
The Indian Vice President expressed hope that the visit by the Zimbabwean delegation will help strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Noting that India and Zimbabwe are true friends and genuine partners, both the Vice President of India and Advocate Mudenda reiterated their mutual commitment to advance the agenda of global peace and security alongside promoting bilateral ties on a range of areas.
Honourable Shri Dhankhar, while presenting an overview of the country’s stature and profile in recent times, shared with the visiting delegation that India has taken a lead in addressing the non-discriminatory global challenges like COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. In particular, he mentioned about the country’s strides in managing COVID-19 pandemic with the scientific and digital approach covering 1.3 billion people that constitutes 1/6th of the humanity.
The Vice President informed the visiting delegation that India’s G20 Presidency has come at an opportune time when India can provide effective leadership to address global concerns and showcase the Rajya Sabhacountry’s great culture and civilizational values to the world.
Advocate Mudenda highlighted the historic links between the two countries that was shaped by the iconic leadership of Mahatama Gandhi and his philosophy of non violence.
Highlighting the need for enduring peace and security, Advocate Mudenda urged the Vice President that during G20 presidency, India should help strengthen the political will of the developed countries to address the global concerns of climate change. He further said India by virtue of its evolved diplomacy is well poised to take a lead in finding lasting solutions to the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.
Both the leaders recognized that development needs to be inclusive, touching those who live in the margins of society. All efforts need to be made to improve the access of those who reside in the rural hinterland by way of improving physical and digital connectivity.
Advocate Mudenda complimented the efforts made by India in increasing digital penetration in rural areas.
Both the Vice President of India and the Speaker of Zimbabwe’s National Assembly deprecated the practice of vaccine nationalism of a few countries during the surge of the COVID pandemic and hailed India’s vaccine diplomacy as a great humanitarian measure.
Extolling the contribution made by the pharmaceutical sector during the pandemic and the efficacy of Indian generic medicine in addressing the global health challenges, Honourable Rajya Sabha said, “India is the pharmacy of the world”.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction that our two Parliaments are pursuing the welfare of our respective people and are committed to improve their lives and livelihoods.
The Vice President extended warm wishes to the visiting delegations, the Parliament and the friendly people of Zimbabwe.
