2024-07-14 02:04:47
The two countries have always affirmed their common will to raise their historical bilateral relations, based on mutual respect, to higher levels, capable of strengthening political dialogue, consolidating exchanges and exploring new areas of cooperation.
Through this dynamic, Rabat and Lisbon want to establish a multidimensional strategic partnership, reflecting the strength of their ties, and address common regional challenges.
In this sense, the 14th Morocco-Portugal High Level Meeting (HLM), held last month in Lisbon, under the chairmanship of the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, was an illustration of the firm will of the two neighboring countries, determined to take advantage of their geographical proximity and the dynamics of their economies, to boost bilateral cooperation and launch fruitful partnerships.
In this regard, Mr. Akhannouch stressed the continued commitment of the two countries to promoting bilateral cooperation on multidimensional levels, in accordance with the aspirations of the leaders of the two countries, HM King Mohammed VI and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who have continued to surround these relations with their high concern.
For his part, the Portuguese Prime Minister stressed that Morocco and Portugal are neighboring countries linked by strong relations, which have a weight in their Mediterranean environment.
The two countries have decided to upgrade their bilateral relations to a long-term strategic partnership encompassing cooperation in different areas, added the Portuguese Prime Minister, noting that great opportunities are opening up for the two countries to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of youth, employment, scientific research, industries and culture.
Regarding the Moroccan Sahara, Portugal joined the European countries that support the Moroccan plan for autonomy in the Sahara, reiterating, on this occasion, its support for the Moroccan initiative that it considers as a “realistic, serious and credible proposal with a view to an agreed solution within the framework of the United Nations.”
Within the framework of this high-level meeting, 12 agreements covering different strategic areas were concluded to promote bilateral relations in all their dimensions. The agreements cover the economic, energy, cultural, legal, higher education, crafts, social solidarity and justice sectors.
Furthermore, the RHN was marked by the holding of the Portugal-Morocco Economic Forum, under the theme “Morocco-Portugal: together to build prosperous economies and common growth”.
This forum brought together, in addition to the presidents of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP), economic actors and Moroccan and Portuguese businessmen active in several fields.
Indeed, Moroccan-Portuguese cooperation focuses on promising sectors that offer several opportunities for economic integration, including energy, the automobile industry, textiles, the environment and the modernization of the administration.
On another level, bilateral relations have experienced a new dynamic at the sporting level after the announcement by HM King Mohammed VI, last March, of Morocco’s joint candidacy, with Portugal and Spain, for the organization of the 2030 World Cup.
This tripartite candidacy, widely welcomed in Portugal, will be “an opportunity to unite the two continents through sport”, Antonio Costa said at the 47th UEFA Congress, held in Lisbon.
According to the Final Declaration, “this candidacy will be a first in the history of football.”
Furthermore, close bilateral relations have been strengthened this year, thanks to the launch of a remarkable cultural dynamism, as evidenced by Morocco’s participation in the contemporary art exhibitions ”Arco Lisboa” and ”Blue and other colours… A journey into the history of Moroccan art”.
This dynamic was also embodied through a distinguished participation in the work of the World Web Summit 2023 in Lisbon, considered one of the most important annual forums in the technology sector in the world, as well as a visit of a Moroccan economic delegation to Portugal with the aim of exploring investment and cooperation opportunities between Moroccan businessmen and their Portuguese counterparts.
Given the importance of parliamentary cooperation to strengthen the rapprochement between the two countries and the partnership between representative institutions, a Moroccan parliamentary delegation also made a working visit to the Portuguese National Assembly, in order to explore Portugal’s experience in participatory democracy.
Seizing the current dynamics of bilateral economic, trade and cultural relations, the two countries continue to examine all opportunities for cooperation, so that this strategic partnership becomes a model of common development and a solid framework for investment.
2024-07-14 02:04:47