4. Will the Minister set out the Welsh Government's initial priorities for Wales's international relations? OAQ53312

International priorities will be shaped through a new international strategy, and we're at the start of that process, but I've been clear that the focus is to create a more prosperous and sustainable Wales through increased export and investment, whilst increasing Wales’s influence and international recognition.

Yes, Minister, I think it's very important to continue to open Wales to the world and the world to Wales, which I think has been an important benefit of devolution. One aspect of that has been the programme for Africa, and I think the evaluation of that shows that it is punching well above its weight. We have, I think, 20 per cent of the hospital-to-hospital links, UK to Africa, in Wales. We were the first Fairtrade Nation in 2008. Size of Wales exceeded the target of planting a million trees in Uganda, and I think there's a new target now of 10 million. In 2015, some 80,000 people in Wales benefited from the work under the programme, and some 0.25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, and we have over 150 community-to-community links, which I think is absolutely fantastic. So, given that success and the importance of this work, I wonder if you would consider increasing the budget, because I think it's been at something just in excess of £900,000 for several years now. In contrast, in Scotland, they've gone from something like £3 million to £15 million over a similar period of time. So, given the great importance and the value of this work, Minister, I wonder if you will look carefully at whether we might be able to increase the budget.

I think we're really proud of our Wales for Africa programme, and it's an example of where a small amount of money has really gone a very long way, and has transformed the lives of people in a very fundamental way in some of the poorest parts of the world. So, this is very much part of what we'll be building into our international strategy. And you're absolutely right—in Uganda, the ten-millionth tree will be planted this summer, so that's something I think we should all be very proud of. 

We've recently announced 15 small grants with a budget of £250,000, so there's a whole host of new organisations who will be receiving money, but we will be looking at the budgeting in the context of what the international strategy looks like. So, the first step will be prioritising, and then making the finance fit to those priority lists. But, absolutely, Africa is very much on our agenda.

Minister, to mark its hosting of the Rugby World Cup, the Japanese Government has launched the Japan-UK season of culture. There's an active committee in Wales promoting events here. I do hope it will get extensive participation from the Welsh Government because we should celebrate our links with Japan. They've done so much economically, and there are many cultural linkages as well, and this is the sort of thing that we do need to project Wales abroad more and build on those rich traditions that have already been substantially developed.

Thank you. I think we've got a very long and proud tradition in terms of our relationships with Japan. Of course, we had a lot of companies move in in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and they really transformed parts of our communities. It's very sad to see now companies like Sony have said that they will be moving their headquarters out of the United Kingdom as a direct result of Brexit. So, that is something that, of course, we lament, but it’s happening already. The same thing, I think, is true for Panasonic. Wales Arts International is, I think, an organisation that has been looking at what we can do in relation to the Rugby World Cup. There are great opportunities. I've been speaking to somebody involved in promoting paintings and selling artwork abroad, and she's made a very comprehensive link with a museum out in Japan. So, already, things are building up towards that world cup, and I know that the Minister with responsibility for agriculture and rural affairs has expressed an interest in visiting Japan, because they've recently announced that they will be lifting their suspension of exports of Welsh lamb to Japan. So, there's a real opportunity for us to boost and to jump off this Rugby World Cup to find new markets at a time of real difficulty, in particular if we have some kind of 'no deal' Brexit, where it would be very difficult to export into our traditional markets. 

I do welcome the fact that this role exists, particularly as it’s important that Wales can express views on things that happen at the international level. In that context, I wonder whether you could explain to us what kind of debates you can bring before this Chamber so that we can have debates on what is happening on the international stage. For example, I’ve been working with the Kurdish community here in south Wales, who have been canvassing and campaigning against the fact that many politicians and campaigners are imprisoned in Turkey and are on hunger strike, indeed, because of the fact that the Turkish Government is treating them unfairly. If we as a Senedd have a view and can debate issues of international importance, then that sends a clear message to the world just how important those issues are at a global level, but also for the Kurdish community, which is a large community here in south Wales. So, can I ask you: what is your vision for having discussions on non-devolved issues, but things that are hugely important to the people of Wales and people on a global level more generally?

Thank you. I do welcome the fact that we have the opportunity now to look at what’s happening in the wider world. I am aware, of course, that this is a reserved matter to a great extent to the Government, and of course we have a great interest, particularly if there are links between the people of Wales and the other areas of the world. As regards the matter of the Kurds, may I say that I met the Turkish ambassador on Monday and raised this matter of the imam from Newport who has been on hunger strike because he was concerned about the events in Turkey? We must of course remember that this is the tenth largest country in terms of receiving our exports, but we must ensure that the trade fits in with human rights.