Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:33 pm on 20 November 2019.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 2:33, 20 November 2019

Thank you. Well, our work on the strategy and on what we're doing in the international arena has not stopped. We are being very active on lots and lots of different fronts. And if you look at just what we achieved in Japan, I think that will give you an example of how we are reaching out beyond Wales and making sure we take advantage of situations. We are very pleased that Wales now will be going to the European cup, and that will give us another opportunity for us to raise our profile internationally as well.

The key thing that is most important for me is that, actually, this is not just about a Government international relations plan; this has got to be about everybody buying into this as much as possible so that we can really amplify our voice overseas. And in order to do that, what was crucial is to make sure we got the engagement right on developing the strategy. We've had over 110 responses in relation to our draft strategy and we have processed those now. By tomorrow, or the end of this week, we'll be publishing what those responses are. But that engagement is absolutely crucial, and that engagement in particular with developing countries is something that we have already undertaken in relation to the Wales for Africa project. But also, there's lots and lots of other work that we think we could be doing. But using our diaspora, as John was suggesting earlier, is an opportunity for us to reach back into some of those countries where we are keen to make further relationships.