Lisbon: Morocco and Portugal have expressed a mutual intention to leverage their longstanding historical connections and geographical proximity to establish a ‘substantive strategic partnership,’ stated Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates. This announcement was made during a joint press conference in Lisbon with Paulo Rangel, the Portuguese Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the discussions between Bourita and Rangel led to the development of an action plan aimed at implementing this strategic partnership through practical measures. These measures include enhancing political dialogue between the two nations, which share similar positions on numerous international issues. Morocco values Portugal’s perspectives on African and global affairs.
Bourita highlighted that King Mohammed VI places significant importance on strengthening the ties between Morocco and Portugal, with ambitions to elevate their bilateral relations beyond the current status. His visit to Lisbon is a step towards realizing the Royal vision of reinforcing the partnership, which is rooted in a shared history and geographical closeness, making the two countries privileged neighbors.
On the economic front, the ministers discussed strategies to enhance economic relations, aiming to position Portugal among Morocco’s top ten economic partners. Bourita emphasized the necessity of active private sector participation to seize the opportunities arising from their bilateral relationship.
The dialogue also covered ways to enhance collaboration in cultural, academic, and scientific fields to strengthen the human connections between Moroccan and Portuguese citizens. Furthermore, regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, Bourita noted that Portugal’s stance, as articulated in the joint statement after the meeting, aligns with the positive initiatives led by King Mohammed VI to resolve this regional conflict.
This visit marks the beginning of a new phase in fortifying bilateral cooperation, paving the way for future events including the monitoring committee, joint committee, ministerial visits, and high-level engagements.
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