12th Morocco-Spain HLM Wraps Up in Rabat

The 12th session of the Moroccan-Spanish High Level Meeting (HLM), co-chaired by the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, wrapped up Thursday in Rabat. This session was marked by the adoption of a Joint Statement and the signing of several agreements on several areas including migration management, tourism, infrastructure, water resources, environment, agriculture, vocational training, social security, transport, health security and research and development. Speaking at the close of this session, Akahannouch stressed that this meeting has inaugurated a new stage “whose essence is the focus on issues of common interest.” Among these issues is sustainable development in view of the role that Morocco plays in the southern Mediterranean basin and Africa, and Spain’s role in the north of the basin and the European continent, he explained. The fruitful and deepened cooperation relations will also generate real opportunities to consolidate tripartite cooperation for Africa, including vocational training and development in general, he said, noting that this session aims to anchor a strategic foundation for building a balanced relationship based on the willingness and common concern to manage the present and build the future. This session, he said, has focused on ways to consolidate relations and develop bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy, mobility and other priority sectors for both countries, as well as offered the two countries the opportunity to assess bilateral relations and define the priorities of cooperation in the coming years. The large participation of the Spanish delegation in this session is a clear testimony of the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that unite Morocco and Spain, said Akhannouch, noting that it also reflects the strong will of both countries and their commitment to work together for “a privileged and resolutely future-oriented partnership.” This meeting offered both countries the opportunity to assess bilateral relations and define the priorities of cooperation in the coming years, as it inaugurated a new stage whose essence is the focus on issues of common interest. The Moroccan-Spanish partnership has opportunities and assets to translate both countries’ ambition, through this meeting, into concrete results for the benefit of both kingdoms and in consecration of the strong will of their two sovereigns, he said, hailing, moreover, the human dimension of the bilateral relationship and praising the effective contribution of the Moroccan community established in Spain and the Spanish community living in Morocco, which are constantly working to enrich the privileged partnership uniting the two friendly countries. For his part, Sanchez said that this HLM comes to consolidate the new stage of bilateral relations begun on April 7, 22 by his visit to Morocco at the invitation of HM King Mohammed VI, saying he was convinced that this stage will be full of success and shared prosperity. He also expressed his conviction that this rapprochement will be beneficial to both countries and peoples, welcoming the success of this session as evidenced by the number of agreements signed and actions agreed.