Mohammed VI offers Macron a crowd bath on his arrival in Rabat with a Renewed Exceptional Partnership
President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrived in Rabat Monday afternoon on a state visit to the Kingdom of Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI within the framework of a Renewed Exceptional Partnership and a strategic roadmap for the coming years
King Mohammed VI met, on Monday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, according to an official statement from the Royal Cabinet.
The talks between the two heads of state focused on the move towards a new era of strong relations between Morocco and France, within the framework of a Renewed Exceptional Partnership and a strategic roadmap for the coming years.
In this regard, the two heads of state intend, through this renewed partnership, to give a decisive impetus to multidimensional relations of excellence between Morocco and France, to take into account the ambitions of the two countries and to face, together, international developments and challenges.
Mohammed VI-Emmanuel Macron: Renewed Exceptional Partnership
The talks also focused on regional and international issues. Thus, the two heads of state agreed to work together to consolidate the Euro-Mediterranean, African and Atlantic projection, within the framework of a common action approach in favor of prosperity and human and sustainable development.
They underlined the importance of renewing, in depth, the partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean in order to build a more stable, sustainable and prosperous future for the region as a whole, while responding to the current socio-economic and environmental challenges.
The President of the French Republic also praised the constructive role of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, in the service of peace in the Middle East. The two heads of state called for an immediate cessation of attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, while stressing the priority of protecting civilian populations and the importance of ensuring and facilitating the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, while putting an end to the regional conflagration.
The Sovereign and the French President reiterated the urgent need to revive the peace process, within the framework of the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The President of the French Republic addressed an official invitation to King Mohammed VI to pay a State visit to France. The invitation was accepted by the Sovereign, the date of which will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Crowd bath
Upon their arrival at Rabat-Salé airport, the French head of state and his wife Brigitte Macron were greeted on the tarmac by King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid and Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem.
In the tribune of honor, they saluted the national flags to the sound of the national anthems of the two countries, while a 21-gun salute sounded to welcome the French president.
Then, the Moroccan and French leaders reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard that rendered the honors.
At the entrance of the Royal Hall of Rabat-Salé Airport, the French head of state, accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron were invited to the traditional ceremony of offering milk and dates.
After a short break, the entourage of the two heads of state proceeded to the Royal Palace in Rabat. The inhabitants of the cities of Salé and Rabat gathered along the route of the official retinue to express their joy for the first day of this State visit, which will undoubtedly mark a new milestone in the friendly relations between the two countries, the two peoples.
The main avenues crossed by the royal retinue were adorned with Moroccan and French flags.
In a significant gesture of communion and spontaneity, Mohammed VI, leaning on a thin cane, stopped the procession to approach, together with the French leader, the large group of people gathered to see the official procession and to cheer the presence of the two heads of state who were in an open car greeting the thousands of citizens who filled the streets of the capital.
Arriving at the “Bab Assoufara” gate, the procession was escorted by the fanfare and cavalry of the Royal Guard to the Mechuar Square of the Royal Palace.
This unit of the Royal Guard escorts the retinue of Mohammed VI when he receives illustrious guests, giving a distinguished character to this official and popular ceremony dispensed to the French president in the Moroccan capital, at the height of the deep ties that unite Morocco and France.
On Mechuar Square, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Moroccan sovereign were greeted by representatives of the high institutions and the government of the two countries who gathered in Rabat to stage the new stage of relations between the two countries.