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Rabat – Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch welcomed the President of the French National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, and the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, in Rabat on Thursday.
The French officials are visiting Morocco as part of a joint parliamentary delegation to attend the fifth session of the Moroccan-French Parliamentary Forum, held January 29-30.
Several Moroccan ministers attended the meeting, including Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and the government spokesperson, Mustafa Baytas, as well as French Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier.
Both sides noted a turning point in relations in October 2024, when King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a “Strong Exceptional Partnership” declaration and launched investment agreements worth €10 billion in key strategic sectors.
Akhannouch hailed France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara and the ongoing visits of French officials to Morocco’s southern provinces.
He said this support reflects France’s backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only solution to end the regional dispute. He added that this collaboration opens new opportunities for economic, regional, and international cooperation.
France officially recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024 after President Emanuel Macron sent King Mohammed VI a letter saying that “the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
This recognition was followed by several official visits to Morocco’s southern regions in Western Sahara, as well as economic forums held in Dakhla and Laayoune to put forth the potential of the region.
The forum serves as an important platform for dialogue and consultation, allowing Moroccan and French parliamentarians to exchange views, coordinate positions, and discuss issues of mutual interest, according to a statement from Akhannouch’s office.
Relations between Morocco and France have strengthened in recent years, with economic partnerships, high-level visits, and joint projects in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and agriculture.
