Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, February 21, 2013 (MAP)
Moroccan minister-delegate for foreign affairs and cooperation, Youssef Amrani, renewed Thursday in Malabo, Morocco’s commitment to consolidate political dialog and establish effective partnership between Africa and Latin America.
Talking at the Africa-Latin America foreign ministers forum held in Malabo, capital city of Equatorial Guinea, in preparation of the 3rd summit slated for Friday, Amrani said the Malabo session is a new step in developing cooperation between Africa and Latin America.
He also stressed Morocco’s commitment, that was repeatedly expressed by HM Majesty King Mohammed VI, to defend African interests and promote solidarity with African countries to serve their legitimate aspirations to development.
Amrani added that Morocco is willing to consolidate cooperation with Latin American countries with whom the Kingdom shares several cultural and linguistic aspects, given than 6 million Moroccans speak Spanish.
He also called for increasing trade between Africa and Latin America and create new trade and investment opportunities, insisting that instability only benefits terror groups and criminal bands.
So far, the presidents of Bolivia, Cape Verde, Brazil, Somalia, Cote d’Ivoire, Burundi, Swaziland, Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Benin, South Africa, Sao Tome-et-Principe, Sudan, Senegal, Ethiopia and Surinam have confirmed participation in the Africa-Latin American forum summit.
On the sidelines of this summit, a business forum will bring together economic operators who will seek ways to stimulate cooperation in trade, investments, tourism, transport, mining, sciences, technology and security.
The two previous summits were held in Abuja (Nigeria) in 2006 and the Venezuelan island of Margarita in 2009.
