Burkina Faso and Venezuela have undertaken to revitalize their cooperation, particularly in the areas of health, agriculture, education, security, mining, oil, culture, air transport, communication and information, electoral issues, human rights, and all sectors of major shared interest, the AIB has learned.
At the invitation of the Venezuelan Government, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Me Apollinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tambèla, made a friendly and working visit to Caracas, Venezuela, from May 9 to 15, 2023, announces the Direction of Communication of the Primature.
This visit is part of the strengthening of relations of friendship and cooperation that bind Burkina Faso to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding relating to the establishment of a consultation mechanism between Burkina Faso and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, signed in New York on January 22, 2010.
Me Apollinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tambèla was received by the highest Venezuelan authorities, in particular at the presidential palace, by the president, Nicolas Maduro.
The exchanges between the head of the Burkinabe government and the Venezuelan authorities focused on the internal situation of each of the two countries and on bilateral, regional and international issues.
For bilateral consultation mechanisms, the two countries agreed to revitalize cooperation, particularly in the areas of health, agriculture, education, citizen security, mining, oil, culture , air transport, communication and information, electoral issues, human rights, and all sectors of major shared interest.
On economic relations, Burkina Faso and Venezuela agreed on the need to increase economic exchanges and explore the commercial opportunities offered by the respective markets, particularly in the fields of energy, mining and 'agriculture.
And as prospects, they expressed their desire to move forward in the identification of cooperation projects in the areas of health, oil and mining, the exchange of good practices in agriculture and livestock, the development of university and technical training, the increase of cultural exchanges, as well as the signing of the draft agreement on Air Services, with the aim of promoting trade between the two countries.
The situation in the Sahel also featured prominently in discussions with the Venezuelan authorities.
Indeed, the two countries expressed their deep concern about the situation and security in the Sahel, in particular terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking and organized crime, poverty and threats to peace and to stability.
They called for contributing to peace in this sub-region and beyond.
As for human rights issues, the two Parties have expressed their willingness to work together to promote and defend them.
They called on other States to act according to the strict principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and non-politicization, in accordance with respect for non-intervention in the internal affairs of States, which will be conducive to peace and international security.
Venezuela and Burkina Faso have also agreed to work for the reciprocal support of their respective candidacies in multilateral bodies.
The Burkinabe Party has invited the Venezuelan side to pay a friendship and working visit, during 2023, to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with a view to holding the first Joint Cooperation Commission between the two States.
To do this, instructions were given to the experts of the two delegations present, in order to reflect on the modalities of organization of this important meeting.
The two Parties have also agreed to exchange through diplomatic channels to set the date. It will be preceded by a preparatory meeting of experts, to finalize the draft cooperation agreements selected.
Source: Burkina Information Agency