Morocco, a “historic and strategic” partner for Belgium and the EU (Lahbib)
Morocco is a “historical and strategic” partner for Belgium and the whole of the European Union (EU), confirmed, Thursday in Rabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and Cultural Institutions representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium, Mrs. Hadja Lahbib, on a working visit to the Kingdom.
“Morocco is for Belgium and the whole of the EU, moreover, a historical and strategic partner in terms of trade, regional stability, security, migration, climate, energy and the fight against terrorism,” said Ms. Lahbib during a press briefing after a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita. “Morocco is also the country of origin of hundreds of thousands of Belgians. These Belgians whose parents and grandparents came from the Rif, the regions of Tiznit, Souss, Rabat, Tangier and many other cities, link our two countries forever,” she said. believing that Belgians of Moroccan origin constitute “a human link between Rabat and Brussels.”
The Belgian minister also welcomed the will of Morocco and Belgium “to share and progress gradually” in their economic and commercial relations, and to launch a strategic dialogue in order to optimize bilateral cooperation in various fields. “Our excellent relations, the importance of our historical ties and our common challenges make the establishment of a regular and structured dialogue more than necessary,” she said. For his part, Mr. Bourita said that this visit is part of a “phase and a very positive sequence” of strengthening relations characterized by a regularity of ministerial, parliamentary and other visits, adding that it also reflects “the Friendship, esteem and consideration between the royal families of the two countries”.
The Minister welcomed the “very fruitful exchanges” with his Belgian counterpart, specifying that they enabled the two parties “to conceive and discuss ways of building on an old friendship a more strategic partnership with a diversified content and a involvement of different economic, paramilitary, security and judicial actors.” In this regard, Mr. Bourita announced the holding, next year, of the High-Level Cooperation Commission after a ten-year hiatus.