Albares travels to Morocco to relaunch bilateral relations in a "multidimensional" manner
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has arrived in Morocco today with the aim of boosting political, economic, cultural and development cooperation relations. This trip, Albares' first official visit abroad in the new legislature, will begin with a meeting with a group of local Hispanists to analyse the state of cultural relations between the two countries.
However, as an official communiqué from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out, "the most active part of the agenda will take place tomorrow, Thursday 14 December, with the traditional visit and offering at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V".
For the time being, during his short stay in Rabat, Albares has already given an interview to the Moroccan news agency (MAP), where he stressed that the aim of this trip is to "relaunch the agenda or roadmap that Spain and Morocco have built, which is multidimensional".
With regard to bilateral cooperation, Albares wanted to highlight the fight against human trafficking mafias and the fight against terrorism, two aspects in which Morocco and Spain are "an example for the whole world", according to the minister.
The head of Spanish diplomacy also stresses that trade "has skyrocketed". However, for Albares, "the most important thing" is that Madrid and Rabat have strengthened "their political and human relations more than ever". "For me, these are the foundations on which we are building this strategic partnership relationship today," he told MAP.
M. José Manuel Albares, qui effectue mercredi et jeudi une visite au Maroc
— هشام السنوسي (@Pirana_dusahara) December 13, 2023
🔴'’des relations des plus denses et des plus riches qui puissent exister au monde’’, sont désormais unis par un "partenariat stratégique et multidimensionnel’’
🔴"Le monde entier va constater de près… pic.twitter.com/cZyBkXHQ9w
According to figures provided by the Spanish minister, more than a million Moroccans live "perfectly integrated" in Spain, "contributing to the prosperity" of the nation. "There are also more than 20,000 well-established Spanish citizens in Morocco. These citizens, on both sides, are the true ambassadors of Morocco in Spain and of Spain in Morocco," he said.
On the economic front, Albares reminds the Moroccan media that trade between the two countries has reached 20 billion euros. Spain is Morocco's leading customer and supplier, while the Kingdom is Spain's third largest trading partner outside the EU, only surpassed by the United States and the United Kingdom.
"Trade exchanges have increased by 40% compared to the period prior to the adoption of the roadmap in April 2022, and the figures for this coming year will be even higher," says Albares.
#MapActu
— Agence MAP (@MAP_Information) December 13, 2023
المغرب وإسبانيا، بلدان تجمعهما “شراكة استراتيجية ومتعددة الأبعاد” (السيد ألباريس)https://t.co/R1DcJCsyW8
Le Maroc et l’Espagne, deux pays unis par “un partenariat stratégique et multidimensionnel” (M. Albares)https://t.co/9xOcAyk6fa pic.twitter.com/6BVatGfSiQ
All these aspects have made the relationship between Morocco and Spain "one of the closest and richest in the world", according to the minister.
"Morocco is the first priority of Spanish foreign policy. With Morocco, we truly have a partnership of choice, a win-win partnership. Everything we do together benefits both countries," he stressed.
Albares also referred to the joint organisation of the 2030 World Cup by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, an event that "will undoubtedly be one of the cornerstones of the roadmap launched almost two years ago".
#MapInfographie
— Agence MAP (@MAP_Information) December 13, 2023
M. José Manuel Albares, qui effectue mercredi et jeudi une visite au Maroc, a mis en exergue, dans une interview exclusive accordée à la MAP, le caractère ''pluridimensionnel’’ du partenariat liant son pays au Maroc.@jmalbares @MAECgob pic.twitter.com/LKLAsbyM46
The head of Spanish diplomacy believes that the whole world will see at first hand "the Spanish-Moroccan friendship, the partnership between our two countries, but also the partnership between Europe and Africa", since Morocco is the gateway to the African continent and Spain is the gateway to Europe.
"For the first time, the world will see a World Cup organised on two continents. Through this event, the two countries will demonstrate their joint capacity to organise and celebrate the values of sport, namely competitiveness and effort, as well as diversity and plurality," concludes Albares.
Albares to meet with Spanish businessmen in Morocco
Tomorrow Albares is scheduled to meet with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, with whom he will hold a bilateral meeting in which the delegations from both countries will also participate. Afterwards, they will hold a joint press conference with the media.
In addition to this meeting, Albares will also visit the Spanish School in Rabat, where he will inaugurate the model of the future educational centre and will have the opportunity to talk to teachers and students. In the afternoon, he will meet with members of Spanish Cooperation in Morocco, with whom he will examine the work carried out by Spain to help those affected by the earthquake last September.
Albares' trip to Morocco will conclude with a business meeting at the Spanish Embassy Residence, in which the different business associations present in the North African Kingdom will participate. Afterwards, the Spanish minister will hold a reception at the ambassador's residence, which several Moroccan ministers have confirmed their attendance, including the Minister of Development and Water, Nizar Baraka, and the Minister of Culture, Mehdi Bensaid, sources from their departments told EFE.
