Morocco and France reiterated commitment to further strengthen their partnership, notably in the fields of security, sustainable development, culture and education said the Royal Office in a statement.
The statement was issued following a luncheon in Paris hosted by the French President François Hollande in Honor of King Mohammed VI and the delegation accompanying him, including cabinet members.
The statement added that the two heads of state expressed satisfaction at the special and multifaceted character of Moroccan-French relations which “transcend the political agenda.”
They voiced confidence regarding the future of Moroccan-French partnership and stressed its strategic importance at the bilateral, euro-Mediterranean and African levels, said the Royal Office.
In this respect, President Holland congratulated King Mohammed VI on Morocco’s return to the African Union and lauded the Kingdom’s contributions to the development efforts in the continent, said the statement.
For his part, King Mohammed VI thanked President Hollande for his personal commitment to strengthen the Moroccan-French friendship and reiterated Morocco’s willingness to further promote the special ties between the two countries, the statement added.
The Royal visit to Paris comes at a particular context marked by an electoral presidential race with high stakes for the future of France and the EU. Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right anti-immigration Marine Le Pen began a final duel for the French Presidency due on May 7.
Polls suggest that Centrist Emmanuel Macron will enter the second round of voting as a clear favourite over his rival, Le Pen.
President Hollande has previously called on French voters to reject Le Pen and back Emmanuel Macron, his former economy minister whom he described as a leader who would “defend the values which will bring French people together at such an important moment, a serious time for Europe, the world and France”.
