Morocco-Belgium Relations: A Strong Partnership Celebrating Over 150 Years of Cooperation

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, welcomed His Excellency Bernard Quintin, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his first official visit to Morocco. The visit, which comes at a pivotal moment in the history of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, reaffirmed the depth of their political, economic, and humanitarian ties.

Bourita emphasized the significant progress in the relations between Morocco and Belgium, stating, “The relationship between Morocco and Belgium is strong, and next year we will celebrate over 150 years of our cooperation and friendship agreement.” He pointed out the human connections that form the backbone of this relationship, noting the presence of more than 600,000 Moroccans in Belgium and an increasing Belgian community in Morocco, which now numbers approximately 5,000 people.

The Moroccan Minister also stressed that the relationship is not limited to government-level cooperation but extends to bilateral engagement between the two nations as sovereign states. “Morocco deals with Belgium as a sovereign state, and Belgium reciprocates in the same manner,” he said. He highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership and the need to align both countries’ priorities while continuously coordinating on regional and international issues.

On the economic front, Bourita underscored Belgium’s importance as a trading partner for Morocco, noting that Belgium is Morocco’s fifth-largest trade partner, while Morocco ranks as Belgium’s fourth-largest trade partner. However, he acknowledged that there is still untapped potential in their commercial cooperation. He emphasized the necessity to develop joint strategic frameworks to further enhance economic ties and overcome any barriers hindering shared growth.

In addressing the issue of Western Sahara, Bourita highlighted Belgium’s evolving stance on the matter, which has become an important indicator of the strength and credibility of their bilateral relations. He also praised the growing cooperation between Morocco and Belgium in the security and consular domains, particularly in areas like illegal immigration and combating smuggling networks, emphasizing Morocco’s responsible approach to migration issues.

Regarding regional issues, Bourita mentioned the alignment of Morocco’s and Belgium’s positions on various matters, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Both nations work together to support territorial integrity and advocate for dialogue to resolve conflicts.

In conclusion, Bourita reiterated that the visit of the Belgian minister was a key opportunity to reaffirm the principles agreed upon in the joint declaration between the two countries in October 2024. He also noted that the visit resulted in an agreement on a roadmap developed during the high-level joint committee, emphasizing their mutual desire to activate these frameworks and further enhance bilateral cooperation moving forward.

source : fesnews media

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