Rabat and Madrid started a new era of relations, with the signing of more than 20 agreements, including facilitating Spanish investments in Morocco, establishing partnerships in the fields of education, culture, water desalination, and rail transport, and agreeing to ensure the passage of people and goods through customs, land and sea ports.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in combating irregular migration, in addition to agriculture, education, tourism and culture, and other vital fields.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said Morocco and Spain entered a new phase of relations, in view of Madrid’s recognition of the autonomy initiative as a solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.
“Our bilateral relationship marks a new era in light of your government’s support for the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, as Spain had the courage of historical realism, which we can only praise highly,” Akhannouch said, addressing his counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, during the high-level Spanish-Moroccan Forum in Rabat on Thursday.
The forum was last held in 2015.
According to the Moroccan premier, the talks presented an opportunity to review and evaluate the outcome of cooperation in the various political, security, economic, cultural and social fields, and an occasion to establish a new vision of partnership between their countries in the coming years.
Akhannouch explained that Spain was Morocco’s first economic and commercial partner, noting that the two countries “were able to establish a rich and diversified legal framework, keeping pace with the development in many fields.”
For his part, Sanchez said the high-level meeting inaugurated a new stage in relations between Spain and Morocco, calling for exploring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
“We are going to avoid anything that may offend the other, especially with regard to our respective spheres of sovereignty,” he added.
Around 20 agreements were signed on Thursday to bolster Spanish investments in areas including renewable energy, culture, water desalination and rail transport, in addition to an agreement to ensure the passage of people and goods through customs, land and sea ports.
The meeting also discussed cooperation in the field of combating irregular migration, infrastructure, water management, sustainable development and climate change, as well as agriculture, education, vocational training, regular migration and health security.
