Zimbabwe intends to join BRICS using all its means to spur economic growth, and at the same time, the African country seeks to strengthen ties with Russia, Foreign Affairs Minister Amon Murwira said.
"According to our [Zimbabwean] constitution, we must not only be Pan African, but also join progressive groups that are good for the socioeconomic growth of our country and for promoting peace in the world, and normally, peace is fostered through economic development," Murwira told the ZBC broadcaster.
While cooperation with Russia in the fields of education, technology and science is crucial to boosting domestic production and trade, Zimbabwe could also learn from Russia how to find its own solutions to local challenges, according to the top diplomat.
"What we have done with the Russian Federation and many other countries, for that matter, is to coalesce around the idea of growing capabilities. As a ministry, our job is to join the domestic environment in Zimbabwe with the foreign environment in terms of cooperation in education, technical fields, science and technology," Murwira noted.
The Zimbabwean foreign minister also cited initiatives such as the launch of the ZIMSAT 2 satellite from a Russian space center last year as an example of using international partnerships to achieve Zimbabwe's development goals.