Harare — PRESIDENT Mugabe left Harare yesterday evening to attend the Eighth Langkawi International Dialogue to be held at the Langkawi Berjaya Beach and Spa Resort in Malaysia.

The dialogue opens on Monday as part of continuing efforts to promote "win-win smart" partnerships between governments, business, labour and the academia. About 500 participants are expected at the dialogue, including 42 heads of state and government who have been specially invited, according to a statement by the organisers.

Among them will be the heads of government from six member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (commonly known by the acronym ASEAN), seven other Asian countries and 21 African nations.

The focus of this year's dialogue is to explore possible solutions to human capital development, capacity building and poverty.

The dialogue will be held under the theme "Poverty Eradication Through Human Capital Development and Capacity Building".

Besides the heads of state and government, top government officials, academics, business executives, social activists, economists and youth leaders have also been invited to participate in the dialogue.

Southern African countries also hold the Southern African International Dialogue, which Zimbabwe hosted in 1999.

The objectives of the dialogues over the years had been to foster the principles of smart partnership among nations, nationalities, government, business and social sectors.

"The LIDs (Langkawi International Dialogues) had served as excellent platforms for sharing experiences and lessons learnt in governmental, economic and socio-political areas. Such dialogue had also succeeded in promoting trade between Malaysia and several African countries as well as in establishing networking between Malaysian businesses and their overseas counterparts," the statement said.

Cde Mugabe was accompanied by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Minister of Finance Cde Samuel Mumbengegwi, Foreign Affairs Minister Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Industry and International Trade Minister Cde Obert Mpofu, Agricultural Engineering and Mechanisation Minister Cde Joseph Made, Minister of Science and Technology Cde Olivia Muchena and senior Government officials.

During Cde Mugabe's absence Cde Joice Mujuru will be the Acting President.