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Rabat – Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch spoke on Friday in St. Petersburg, Russia about the country’s royal vision to strengthen Africa’s relations with its various partners across the globe.
Speaking at the first plenary session of the summit, Akhannouch stressed that Morocco’s King Mohammed VI was “the first to stress a need to change the angle in which the African continent approaches its traditional partners.”
The new approach, the King has previously explained, should see Africa receive less assistance and aid, and instead engage in mutually beneficial relations with its partners.
“More than humanitarian aid, it is human and social development projects which our continent needs the most,” King Mohammed VI said in a speech in 2014.
Speaking about Morocco’s partnerships specifically, Akhannouch noted that the future of Africa as a continent has become a priority for Morocco’s foreign policy, specifying that the continent aspires to define its place in the world through its human and natural resources.
“Therefore, our continent’s countries have the right to, in complete independence, determine the nature of the strategic partnerships they intend to establish with various international groups and actors, in a way that takes into account their own vital interests,” he added.
Speaking about the role of Russia specifically, Akhannouch noted that the summit reflects the country’s “determination to strengthen friendly relations and constructive cooperation with the participating African countries.”
The head of government also addressed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, reiterating Morocco’s position which stresses the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of UN member-states.
“In this context, and given the challenges posed by the Ukrainian crisis where it comes to food and energy security, particularly in Africa, the Kingdom of Morocco believes in the need to intensify efforts and encourage international and regional cooperation,” he specified.
Akhannouch arrived in the Russian city on Thursday to represent Morocco in the second edition of the summit. The Moroccan delegation also includes Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the Moroccan Ambassador to Russia Lotfi Bouchaara.
