Tashkent: Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Koshanov Yerlan Zhakanovic, called on Sunday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for bolstering cooperation between his country and Morocco. Zhakanovic, who held talks with the Speaker of the House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid, on the sidelines of the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU), held in Uzbekistan’s capital, recalled the strides taken in recent years to strengthen cooperation between Morocco and his country in the political, economic, and human spheres.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Zhakanovic underscored the importance of capitalizing on the strategic positions of Morocco and Kazakhstan and their economic potential to boost the trade and economic momentum between the two countries. He called for the creation of a logistical platform to strengthen trade exchange between the two countries. He also stressed the need to consolidate parliamentary cooperation between Morocco and Kazakhstan, considering
the role played by legislative institutions in promoting relations and rapprochement between countries and peoples.
Ould Errachid, leading the Moroccan parliamentary delegation to the IPU Assembly, stated that this meeting reflects the desire to establish a ‘regular and lasting’ parliamentary dialogue between the legislative institutions of the two countries to serve common causes and interests. He emphasized the distinguished bilateral relations between Morocco and Kazakhstan, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev, ‘based on mutual respect, esteem, and support on vital issues, notably the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
The meeting also embodies the shared will of promoting these relations in different fields, with Ould Errachid praising the results achieved during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Morocco last February, which was crowned by an ‘ambitious and multidimensional’
roadmap aiming to bolster bilateral relations.
The Speaker further emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation and win-win exchanges as complementary mechanisms for tackling the multidimensional challenges imposed by the international context. He called for increased trade between the two regions and welcomed the bilateral agreement to set up a joint government commission and a Morocco-Kazakhstan business council, as well as efforts to strengthen the logistical link between the two countries.
Morocco’s top senator also praised the willingness of the two countries to broaden their cooperation, strengthen trade and investment, and increase the exchange of expertise in strategic sectors of interest to both the Kingdom and Kazakhstan, notably those relating to technological innovation, energy transition, the environment, transport, and logistics.
Ould Errachid called for greater coordination within international organizations and unified efforts on common issues and international initiatives to tackle
global challenges such as food security, health, and climate change. He also highlighted the necessity of strengthening the cultural and civilizational bridges between the two countries, which share cultural ties. The visa exemption between the two countries, which took effect last March, is believed to strengthen cultural and humanitarian exchanges and stimulate tourist flows to both countries.
The value of diplomatic parliamentary action lies in the exchange of visits and experiences in areas linked to parliamentary action, and in boosting the role of friendship groups as a platform for dialogue and joint coordination, said the Upper House Speaker. The 3rd Parliamentary Conference on South-South Cooperation, scheduled for April 28 and 29 in Morocco, will be an opportunity to examine the prospects for developing Moroccan-Kazakh parliamentary relations, he added.
In addition to these discussions, Ould Errachid also held talks with the Speaker of Milli Majlis, the Azerbaijani parliament, Sahiba Gafarova. The
y praised the excellent relations between Morocco and Azerbaijan, which have resulted in the signing of agreements in several fields and visa-free travel, which will take effect on August 28, 2024. The head of the Moroccan delegation also held talks with the First Vice President of the Cambodian Senate, Ouch Borith, focusing on ways of developing parliamentary cooperation and strengthening the ‘age-old ties of friendship’ between the two countries.