Rabat: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, Arnoldo André Tinoco, stated in Rabat that Latin America, particularly Costa Rica, views Morocco as ‘a partner’ and ‘a bridge’ to Africa and Europe.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, André Tinoco made these remarks during a conference at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, focusing on “Latin America in an Era of Global Fragmentation: Challenges and Opportunities for Costa Rica.” He highlighted that Morocco holds a unique strategic position and is a significant player in the Arab and Mediterranean regions, serving as a platform for enhancing South-South cooperation.
The Costa Rican Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of building bridges beyond bilateral cooperation to connect various regions, particularly in a world characterized by divisions. He pointed out the opportunities for Morocco and Latin America to establish stronger cooperation in trade, diplomacy, education, academic research, technology, and culture.
Discussi
ng the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, André Tinoco addressed the challenges faced by these regions, including weak economic growth, social inequalities, and institutional fragility, as well as issues related to insecurity and organized crime.
In a globally fragmented context, Latin America cannot remain passive, he stressed, advocating for collective work, strategic reflection, dialogue, and bridge-building with regions like North Africa and countries such as Morocco.
Regarding Costa Rica, the Minister highlighted the country’s resilience in overcoming significant challenges through investment in human capital, production diversification, environmental sustainability, and open, inclusive multilateralism.
He also reviewed Costa Rica’s economic openness efforts, mentioning new free-trade agreements and ongoing negotiations to join the Pacific Alliance, an economic integration group including Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. He noted the near completion of the accession process to the Compreh
ensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes several countries across Asia, the Pacific, and recently the United Kingdom.
André Tinoco encouraged students to promote ties between Africa and Latin America and to explore new forms of South-South cooperation, portraying them as builders of intellectual, cultural, and diplomatic bridges. He emphasized that universities are not just places of learning but are instrumental in shaping the future of international cooperation.
This conference is part of the Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs’ visit to Morocco, during which he is scheduled to engage in discussions with various Moroccan officials.