Morocco, The Gambia Aim to Elevate Relations to Multidimensional Partnership – Foreign Minister

Morocco and The Gambia aspire to elevate their relations to the level of a tangible and multidimensional partnership, said, on Thursday in Dakhla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. Speaking at the opening of the 3rd session of the Morocco-Gambia joint cooperation commission, Bourita stressed that “the holding of this commission is a starting point for raising the friendship and solidarity linking the two countries to a concrete and multidimensional partnership, within the framework of the vision of the Heads of State of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Adama Barrow.” This joint commission, held ten years after the last session, aims to reactivate this important mechanism in relations between the two countries, he said, pointing out that The Gambia was the first country to open a consulate in the city of Dakhla. The holding of this joint cooperation commission comes in the context of the positive development that Morocco-Gambian relations are undergoing, in line with the vision of the leaders of the two countries, he noted, adding that this commission is also an opportunity to capitalize on the achievements and explore new prospects for bilateral relations in the years to come. Morocco and The Gambia are not only brotherly and friendly countries but also solid partners in various fields, thanks to consultation and coordination based on the principles of solidarity and mutual support, he pointed out, recalling that The Gambia has always been a powerful and reliable ally of Morocco with regard to the question of the Moroccan Sahara. Bourita also pointed out that relations between the two countries have undergone significant development in the economic sphere, noting in this connection the work being done to hold a Morocco-Gambian economic forum next May. On the humanitarian front, the minister stated that The Gambia is one of the countries that benefit significantly from grants offered by Morocco, in terms of both academic and professional training, adding that sectors such as youth, the environment, climate change, tourism, and sports are also priority areas in the bilateral cooperation relationship for the years to come. Morocco has been following with interest the reforms undertaken by president Adama Barrow since his election as head of the Republic of The Gambia, with a view to promoting the country’s stability and development, said Bourita. He noted that, as part of the Gambian president’s vision for the security and stability of his country, Morocco can share its experience with The Gambia, in line with the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in terms of South-South cooperation. The 3rd session of the Morocco-Gambia joint cooperation commission is an opportunity to explore new prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation and establishing fruitful partnerships in several areas. Co-chaired by Bourita and his Gambian counterpart, in the presence of Mohamed Methqal, ambassador and director-general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), and representatives of several government sectors from both countries, this session of the Morocco-Gambia joint cooperation commission was crowned by the signing of 11 agreements covering several areas of bilateral cooperation.