The first-ever Morocco-Panama Parliamentary Friendship Group has been officially established in Panama City to strengthen cooperation between the legislative institutions of both countries, according to Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP).
During the ceremony, Morocco’s Ambassador to Panama, Bouchra Boudchiche, noted “ the establishment of this group reflects a strong commitment to deepening ties between Morocco and Panama.” The ambassador added this reflects a significant milestone in their “bilateral relations, highlighting their shared desire to enhance cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields,” according to a statement from the Moroccan embassy in Panama.
Boudchiche mentioned “this initiative comes at a pivotal moment, following Panama’s decision to suspend its recognition of the self-proclaimed “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” (SADR) last October, an act that strongly supports Morocco’s position on the Sahara issue.
She also mentioned that this development opens new opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation to benefit both peoples, as Morocco’s King Mohammed VI wrote in his message of thanks to Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino Quintero, in which the monarch reaffirmed Morocco’s sincere desire to enhance ties with Panama across all areas.
The foreign ministers of both countries held a video conference on November 27, focusing on boosting cooperation in areas such as agriculture, logistics and renewable energy among others. They also discussed the strategic roles both countries play as bridges between Africa and Latin America.
Ambassador Boudchiche further pointed out the key role of parliamentary members in this initiative, noting that their contribution will be crucial in enhancing interparliamentary relations, fostering solidarity, exchanging expertise, and advancing bilateral.
Eduardo Vásquez, President of the Morocco-Panama Parliamentary Friendship Group, underlined the importance of such groups in fostering diplomatic relations between peoples. He welcomed Morocco’s involvement in this initiative, which promotes the exchange of experiences between the respective legislative bodies and deepens the bonds of friendship and solidarity.
He also pointed out that one of the main goals of these initiatives is to learn from successful development models, such as Morocco’s, expressing Panama’s interest in benefiting from Morocco’s expertise in sectors such as water resource management, agriculture, and fertilizers.
Panamanian members of parliament also supported the establishment of the group and highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. They viewed the creation of the Morocco-Panama Parliamentary Friendship Group as a “key step towards further strengthening relations between the legislative institutions of the two countries.”