Yemeni Foreign Minister, Shaie' Al-Zandani , announced on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024, positive developments in relations with Russia, including the formation of a joint committee, the activation of several bilateral agreements, and the pursuit of new cooperation agreements in various economic sectors.

This statement came during an official meeting in Moscow between the Yemeni Foreign Minister and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to discuss the latest developments in Yemen and the region, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.

According to the agency, Al-Zandani reiterated the Yemeni government's commitment to developing cooperation with the Russian Federation for the benefit of both countries. He emphasized the Russian government's support for the Presidential Leadership Council, the Yemeni government, and the Yemeni people on the international stage, as well as its efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.

During the talks, Al-Zandani addressed the ongoing escalation by the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, in the Red Sea, including their targeting of international shipping lanes. He described this as having "negatively impacted international trade and the global economy, and extended to threaten the marine environment with the continued targeting of ships and oil tankers."

The Yemeni Foreign Minister stressed the need for strong stances from the international community and support for the Yemeni government in its efforts to end the war and achieve peace.

In another context, the minister highlighted the importance of playing an active role in ending the genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army against civilians in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized the need to work towards an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire of Israeli aggression and an end to the war in Gaza.

For his part, the Russian Foreign Minister affirmed the strong Russian-Yemeni relations and his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields. He noted that Russia has decided to increase the number of scholarships for Yemeni students to study in Russia in various fields and specializations.

At the end of the talks, according to the agency, both sides agreed to strengthen and develop bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology, culture, energy, agriculture, and fisheries. They also agreed to hold the joint committee meeting between the two countries next month, which was agreed upon during the visit of Yemeni Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak to Moscow last February.

Following the talks, a press conference was held by the two ministers, where they discussed bilateral relations and shared positions related to developments and the latest developments in Yemen and the region.