Speaking at a joint press briefing at the end of the 3rd session of the Morocco-Angola Joint Cooperation Commission, which he co-chaired with his Angolan counterpart, Téte Antonio, Bourita stressed that the two countries have the potential, experience and expertise to act as the main driving force behind joint African action, based on pragmatism and the continent’s interests, far removed from ideological logics and divisions.
“Morocco wants to work side-by-side with Angola to make Africa’s voice heard in this new world in the making,” said the Minister, adding that the Kingdom welcomes and encourages any initiatives taken by the President of the Republic of Angola to strengthen coordination, as well as the role that African states could play on the international stage.
Morocco will always support such initiatives, as they are perfectly in line with HM King Mohammed VI’s enlightened vision of an Africa capable of solving its own problems, and of being a source of solutions rather than a problem for the international community, the Minister noted.
He also recalled that Morocco and Angola are united by relations rooted in history, which began with the Kingdom’s support for liberation movements in Africa, and more particularly for the Republic of Angola’s accession to independence.
In this respect, he stressed that this position has created solid relations between the two countries, based on solidarity and a convergence of views on the reality of Africa and joint action for the continent’s liberation and development.
Within this framework, Bourita affirmed that bilateral relations have experienced a “very positive” dynamic since the two meetings between HM King Mohammed VI and President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, respectively in November 2017 in Abidjan and in May 2018 in Brazzaville, specifying that these meetings enabled the two Heads of State to give new impetus to bilateral relations.
The holding of the third session of the Morocco-Angola Joint Cooperation Commission will make it possible to “work on the preparation of high-level meetings between the Heads of State of the two countries, as agreed during their previous meetings.”
He further stressed that the two parties will work together to develop content that meets the aspirations of the leaders of the two countries and reflects the place and role played by Morocco and Angola at regional and continental levels.
He added that the holding of this session is further proof of the mutual consideration and respect that characterize relations between the two Heads of State, as well as their desire to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
With regard to the context in which this session is being held, Bourita emphasized that it is taking place in a particularly complex international and African context, requiring a great deal of political dialogue and compromise in order to maintain stability and guarantee peace on the Continent and its interests.
This third session, he maintained, was of particular importance in that it was being held 10 years after the previous one, noting that several partnership agreements had been signed, in addition to the joint communiqué that sanctioned its work.
It was also agreed to strengthen the exchange of expertise in several fields, with particular emphasis on the agriculture, infrastructure and energy sectors, he said.
In addition, the Minister indicated that the talks also focused on the possibility of increasing the number and frequency of air links between the two countries, in order to encourage and promote economic exchange opportunities.
