Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on the sidelines of the COP29 Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This meeting builds on the strong bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and Belarus, following President Lukashenko’s state visit to Zimbabwe in 2023, where they laid groundwork for initiatives in agriculture, health, and women’s leadership programs.

While details of their closed-door discussions were not disclosed, both leaders continue to emphasize mutual cooperation on key development goals.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa joined 80 other world leaders and 72,000 participants at the opening of COP29 at Baku Stadium.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev formally welcomed delegates, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the urgency of climate finance, urging nations to fulfill financial commitments to help developing countries manage the effects of climate change.

This year’s COP has been dubbed the “Finance COP,” with a primary focus on securing climate funding for vulnerable nations.

At the COP29 Summit, Presidents Mnangagwa and Lukashenko underscored the importance of international cooperation, especially among countries pursuing sustainable development. Both leaders expressed optimism that their strengthened alliance will continue to yield tangible benefits, enhancing the welfare of their citizens and setting an example of effective South-South cooperation