Morocco strongly believes that the African-Korean partnership is a crucial driver for the continent’s progress, for global stability, and for the achievement of international justice, according to Lower House Speaker, Rachid Talbi El Alami.
Representing King Mohammed VI at the first Korea-Africa Summit, held on June 4-5 in Seoul, under the banner: “The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity”, Talbi El Alami said that the Korean-African partnership “complements the continent’s other partnerships”.
Talbi El Alami’s comments follow, Morocco’s recent signing of three new agreements to strengthen their bilateral cooperation. The agreements were signed by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul in Seoul, during the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit on Sunday, according to MAP.
He applauded Korea’s image in the African continent and lauded its remarkable progress in “technology, science and economy.”
The Lower House official also commended the country’s “firm commitment to the stability, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty of African countries,” explaining that these values are key drivers of the success of the renewed momentum in African-Korean cooperation.
“Morocco remains committed to consolidating the special cooperation it enjoys with Korea and seeks to take it to a higher level by opening up broader prospects,” he stated.
The speaker emphasized that Morocco with its “sincere, firm and purposeful approach” has a “robust relationship with African sister countries,” exemplified by its 1,500 cooperation agreements, all signed under the reign of King Mohammed VI.
According to the Moroccan official, this renewed partnership aligns with the Royal Atlantic Initiative, announced in November 2023, which aims to improve basic infrastructure in African Sahel countries by enabling them to access the Atlantic Ocean and implement cross-border projects.
Discussing the objectives of the project, he added: “No doubt that this vision, which is rooted in solidarity, and these values, which are meant to help achieve shared progress, will contribute to the emergence of Africa, the promising continent, the continent of the future,” he added.
Talbi El Alami concluded by emphasizing the need to address common misconceptions about Africa, highlighting the continent’s potential as a source of opportunity and young human resources.
“Africa has every right to achieve development which, in turn, contributes to stability, particularly in an international environment characterized by conflict and trends which undermine coexistence,” he concluded.