National Assembly speaker Peter Katjavivi on Tuesday met his German counterpart, president of the Bundestag of Germany, Bärbel Bas, in Berlin, discussing a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations.

Katjavivi is in Germany at the invitation of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for a dialogue with the German Parliament (Bundestag). 

He is accompanied by members of parliament Apius !Auchab, Evelyn !Nawases-Tayele, Diederik Isaak Vries, Phillipus Katamelo, Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, Edson Isaaks and Winnie Moongo. 

The delegation was joined by Namibia’s ambassador to Germany Martin Andjaba.

Katjavivi, according to a media statement by the National Assembly on Tuesday, reiterated the special historic relationship between the two countries.

He emphasised the need to further intensify the parliamentary relationship underpinned by the existing agreement, which was signed in 2018. 

The agreement provides a working methodology that relates to a mutually beneficial relationship between the two parliamentary institutions. 

He noted there has been significant progress made in the implementation of the agreement.

 However, some aspects of the programmes were stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Speaker Katjavivi reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to continue consolidating the said working relationship with the German Bundestag.  

On her part, Bas welcomed Katjavivi and his delegation, noting the Bundestag recognises the special relationship the two countries share. 

Bas reaffirmed the commitment of her office and that of the Bundestag, in general, to strengthen relations and continue with the implementation of the agreement in cooperation with KAS, which was signed by her predecessor. 

 She said now that the Covid-19 pandemic is slowly subsiding, there are opportunities to consolidate the objectives of the agreement. 

Further, Bas added she would like to see staff exchange and direct engagement between Members of the National Assembly and Bundestag.

Both presiding officers reaffirmed their commitment towards strengthening and deepening existing relations and to continue engagements on the specific issues related to Parliamentary administration, digitalisation, research, participatory democracy and strengthened oversight, as these are some of the key priority areas that are outlined in the existing agreement. 

Katjavivi and his delegation are expected back in the country tomorrow. 

The delegation is expected to continue with various engagements, including the Bundestag Parliamentary administration, Bundestag Parliamentary committees and Civil society. 

The participation of the delegation is facilitated with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Namibia.