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Agadir – A Moroccan delegation and a Chinese delegation held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 38th session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) in Hernandarias, Paraguay.
The meeting brought together Morocco’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Samir Addahre, and China’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Yang Xinyu, alongside representatives of the two countries’ national MAB networks.
According to a statement received by Morocco World News (MWN), the two sides discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the management of biosphere reserves.
The talks also explored mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of expertise, launch joint training programs, and organize study visits between biosphere reserves in Morocco and China.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Addahre pointed to the strong friendship and cooperation between Morocco and China, emphasizing the convergence of their visions on sustainable development, innovation, and intercultural dialogue.
He stressed that the two countries share a commitment to building a better future for upcoming generations and expressed hope that the strategic partnership between Rabat and Beijing would translate into stronger cooperation in the field of biosphere reserves.
The Moroccan diplomat called for increased exchanges between the two national MAB networks and the development of joint initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing the resilience of local territories.
For her part, Ambassador Yang commended Morocco’s leadership of the ICC-MAB during the 2024-2026 mandate and congratulated the country on its efforts to advance the objectives of UNESCO’s MAB.
She also lauded Morocco for hosting the 36th session of the ICC-MAB in Agadir in 2024, describing the event as an important milestone in strengthening global governance of biosphere reserves.
Yang further pointed to the active participation of the Moroccan delegation in international MAB events, including the International Congress of Biosphere Reserves and the 37th session of the ICC-MAB held in Lin’an, China.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Moroccan officials to congratulate China following the election of Chinese ecologist and academician Ma Keping as President of the ICC-MAB for the 2026-2028 term during the council’s latest session in Paraguay.
Addahre and Latifa Yaakoubi, President of Morocco’s National MAB Committee, expressed confidence in China’s ability to continue advancing the MAB Program and strengthening the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
They also reaffirmed Morocco’s readiness to support the incoming presidency and contribute to future initiatives in a spirit of cooperation and continuity.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reiterated their commitment to developing a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership based on knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint projects to support biosphere reserves and the communities that depend on them.
