5. What is the Welsh Government's vision for fostering relations with stateless nations? OAQ53316

Whilst diplomatic relations are conducted officially by the UK Government, the Welsh Government will not refrain from developing relations with regions or nations or people where that will be of benefit to Wales.

I understand that the Welsh Government intends to extend its network of embassies, as it were, within the Spanish state. Can I ask you whether it’s an intention to look specifically at Catalonia, and the Basque Country, of course, where there is a close relationship between Wales and those nations already? I raised these issues specifically because in a recent visit by a delegation from the Catalan Government to Brussels, Meritxell Serret, who works for the Catalan Government, had said that they—the Catalan Government—were interested in opening an embassy here in Wales, particularly if we were to do likewise there.

May I ask also—? Because Meritxell herself is a refugee who is unable to return to Catalonia at the moment—and the Llywydd herself visited the former Speaker of the Catalonian Parliament, Carme Forcadell, who is in prison there—would it be possible for the Minister on behalf of the Welsh Government to raise this issue with the Spanish ambassador? I know that that is a reserved issue, and so on, but this is a very unusual situation in the history of recent European democracy, and it of course is in the tradition of Wales, in thinking of what happened during the Spanish civil war, that we express our full co-operation with the people of Catalonia at the moment.

Thank you very much. I think there are about 20 offices across the world belonging to Welsh Government. What I want to do at the moment is to review their influence and their efficiency and what impact they have. One of our committees has asked us to ensure that we get value for money out of them, so before expanding the network I wish to ensure that what we already have is right and proper. But I do think it's right that we need to develop the natural relationship that we have with regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country.

I don't think that we have necessarily always got to open offices. If we're going to focus on economic development, for example, it might be better to send people from here who have expertise in a particular specific field, rather than having generalists present there, and this is what I want to consider when I look at the future strategy. But we're not just going to focus on economic issues. There are, of course, cultural issues. And, where we already have a relationship, it makes sense for us not to break that relationship. But I understand with foreign affairs what makes things happen better than anything else is personal relationships, and we must make sure that we build on those. I think that we are all duty bound to do what we can to raise the Welsh flag while we travel abroad, too.

Minister, this is the first time I've questioned you in your new role, so congratulations on your appointment. I think it's great that there is this renewed focus and emphasis on fostering international relations between the Assembly and other, sometimes troubled, parts of the world.

I see from my diary that on Thursday you're hosting an event in the Senedd setting out your international strategy with key stakeholders—Wales on the world stage. Love Zimbabwe will be represented at that event by two of my constituents, Dave and Martha Holman. I hope you get a chance to catch up with them. The situation in Zimbabwe is truly tragic. The joy and hope of just a matter of months ago has now been replaced with more bloodshed and sadness and sorrow. Can I ask that, as part of your renewed international strategy, there is a focus on holding out a helping hand to the people of Zimbabwe, whether they be in Zimbabwe or whether, like my constituents, they be living here in Wales? The people from Zimbabwe that I know really do feel great affection for Wales and are very grateful for the warmth and affection they've had from the Welsh people, so I think it would be excellent if you could look into fostering a relationship with that particularly troubled part of the world.

Thank you. I'm very much looking forward to hosting that event on Thursday of this week, where we're launching that consultation on what the future strategy for internationalism in Wales should look like. Of course, as part of the developments in the Wales for Africa programme, Zimbabwe will feature, I'm sure, already in that. One of the things I'm keen to do is make sure that we develop a really comprehensive database of what is going on already in Wales, so that if people from Wales go to Zimbabwe, they will be able to contact people and make sure that we build those networks. So, linking that diaspora in Wales is something that also needs a lot of focus, but soft power is something that we mustn't lose sight of. Those personal relationships are something that I think we want to foster and encourage. But Zimbabwe—I look forward to meeting those representatives on Thursday.