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Rabat – Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch held bilateral talks on Thursday in Rabat with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the two countries convened the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting.
Lecornu is leading a high-level ministerial delegation during his official visit to Morocco, where he is co-chairing the meeting with Akhannouch.
The talks brought together senior officials from both countries, including Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Morocco’s Ambassador to France Samira Sitail. The French delegation included Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and France’s Ambassador to Morocco Philippe Lalliot.
Opening the meeting, Akhannouch said the gathering comes at an important moment in Morocco-France relations, which have entered a new phase following French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024.
That visit resulted in the signing of a declaration establishing an “enhanced exceptional partnership,” providing a new framework for cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, and strategic sectors.
Akhannouch said the 15th High-Level Meeting serves as a government mechanism to monitor the implementation of that partnership, assess progress on existing commitments, and identify new flagship projects that will shape the next stage of bilateral relations.
The meeting also takes place amid unprecedented strengthening of political ties between Rabat and Paris.
Read also: King Mohammed VI: Morocco-France Partnership Driver of ‘Promising Future’
Relations between the two countries have grown significantly since France announced in 2024 that it supports Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute. Macron described the present and future of the territory as falling within Morocco’s sovereignty, marking a historic shift in France’s position.
Since then, the two countries have expanded cooperation in several areas, including investment, infrastructure, energy, security, and transport. France has also backed development projects in Morocco’s southern provinces and sent out several delegations to explore investment opportunities in the region.
Lecornu arrived Wednesday evening at Rabat-Sale Airport, where he was welcomed by Akhannouch. He received official honors before greeting several Moroccan ministers, including Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour, Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh, Government Spokesperson Mustapha Baitas, and Minister Delegate for Digital Transition Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni.
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting is expected to produce new agreements and initiatives that further strengthen cooperation under the strategic partnership launched by King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron.
