4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to strengthen links and relations between Wales and the world? OAQ55260

In January, I published the Welsh Government's international strategy, which clearly sets out the actions we will take over the next five years, not only to strengthen our international relationships, but to raise our profile, grow the economy, and establish Wales as a globally responsible nation.

Minister, I think the current coronavirus crisis illustrates yet again how inter-connected the modern world is in terms of communications, in terms of trade, in terms of the way we all work together, and I would say, to a great extent, how we either thrive or suffer together. And in that context, I think international development is very, very important and worth while, as indeed it is morally, as well as in practical terms. And I think the Wales for Africa programme is a good example of Wales and Welsh Government understanding that, and acting on those imperatives. And I know when I went to Mbale in Uganda, for example, I saw the activities of PONT there, supporting the local health sector, building health clinics, helping them to develop, and linking with local government and the voluntary sector in that part of Uganda to very good effect. So, I think, when we look at the lessons to be learned in due course, in terms of the current crisis around coronavirus, I would hope, Minister, that it would strengthen our work and our co-operation with sub-Saharan Africa, recognising our inter-connectedness and the mutual benefit that we gain from those strong relations.

Thank you very much. And I think you're absolutely right: if ever there was evidence that we are an inter-connected world, then this is it. And I think that anybody who thinks that they can isolate themselves in this global society is clearly mistaken now. Just in terms of Uganda, and the situation with Africa, we are of course extremely concerned about when and how this coronavirus is going to impact that part of the world, because obviously they have much weaker health provisions in those countries. We happen to have had somebody who was going to go out to Mbale, and they, as a matter of course, self-isolated for 14 days, just in case, because that was not something that we wanted to be responsible for. So we are taking some very concrete measures to make sure that any relationships that we have—. Of course we've stopped all travel on behalf of the organisations going from Wales to Africa at this point in time.

Minister, obviously I fully accept that international relations are a non-devolved issue, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office take the lead on these particular matters, but what is really important for Welsh people abroad is to understand can we in any way play our role in conducting information that might come to us from our constituents. And I declare an interest: I have a son abroad, who's due back at the end of this month, along with my nephew. That is a particularly challenging thought at the moment, that is, especially as the airline are refusing to rebook. So, are we better off just directing constituents to our Members of Parliament in the locality, or does the Welsh Government have any conduits into the FCO that we, as Assembly Members, can play our role in passing that information on? The last thing we need to do is confuse what is already a very confusing and trying situation.

I think in relation to this, because the FCO is absolutely taking a lead in terms of bringing people home, I would suggest that they should go directly to the FCO.

Question 5 [OAQ55259] has been withdrawn. Question 6, Helen Mary Jones.