The Prime Minister, António Costa, considered today that the 250 years of Luso-Moroccan peace, which will be marked in 2024, should be a confidence factor for the development of bilateral political, social and economic relations.
This was one of the main messages transmitted by the leader of the Portuguese executive at the end of the XIV Portugal-Morocco High Level Meeting, which took place at Palácio Foz, in Lisbon, and which was marked by the decision of the two countries to raise their political relations to the level of strategic partnership.
With his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch at his side, António Costa welcomed the end of “six years of interruption” of bilateral summits and highlighted the signing of 12 agreements in various areas.
“Portugal and Morocco are not simply neighboring countries. We are two countries that are the hinge between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, between Africa and Europe. Therefore, we decided to raise our level of relationship to the level of strategic partnership, so that we can have a broader cooperation, not only in the relationship between our people, between our companies, but also at the political level between the two governments,” he said.
António Costa then pointed out that in 2024 Portugal and Morocco will mark two anniversaries: the 30th anniversary of the Good Neighborhood and Cooperation Agreement, and the 250th anniversary of the Peace Treaty.
According to the Prime Minister, the 250 years of peace “serve as a guarantee of security and trust among all.”
“Two and a half centuries of peace between two neighboring countries is something that should be duly noted and, above all, should inspire our future relations. Relationships that will be structured in an intense program of cooperation in the cultural area, not only in relation to the common heritage that we want to preserve and enhance, but also with regard to new artistic manifestations,” he said.
In addition to investment in cultural industries, the Portuguese prime minister said that the strengthening of ties in scientific cooperation and in the field of research is underway, and that the agreement on worker mobility is to be set in motion, with a view to encouraging “human interconnection, with mutual recognition of qualifications.”
António Costa then highlighted that the business forum today brought together about 130 companies from the most diverse areas, including the automotive, textile, energy, and infrastructure industries – “areas where there are many opportunities for closer relations.
“We will explore all the potential to increase air and sea communications between the two countries and, above all, in the area of energy. Portugal and Morocco can make a decisive contribution to accelerate the challenge of energy transition. The natural resources that both countries have give them an advantage over the previous energy era,” he said, alluding to “the wind and solar potentials.
Addressing the Prime Minister of Morocco, the leader of the Portuguese executive thanked him for the solidarity shown by this country towards Portugal, “particularly during the summer periods when the country faces demanding challenges in fighting forest fires.
The Canadair aircraft from Morocco, according to António Costa, “have been an essential support element to help protect the national populations and forests.