In joint press conference held on Monday in Rabat, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates explained that the two parties « have agreed that 2024 will be the year of expanding bilateral ties and raise them to the level of a real partnership. »
In this respect, Bourita specified that the first session of the Morocco-Malawi Joint Cooperation Commission, scheduled for 2024, will be « an opportunity to consolidate the legal framework of bilateral relations and develop cooperation between the two countries in several sectors. »
This session will also be an opportunity to « update the cooperation roadmap for 2022/2024 to make it the most ambitious tool for promoting bilateral relations, » he emphasized.
The minister noted that Tembo’s visit to Morocco « is part of strengthening bilateral cooperation that has developed, particularly after Malawi withdrew its recognition of the phantom entity in 2018. »
The relations between Morocco and Malawi have entered a « very positive » phase, marked by the signing of the bilateral cooperation roadmap for 2022/2024, he further noted.
He also stressed that the two countries have agreed to bring more ambition to bilateral relations, with a focus on agriculture, tourism, and mining, as well as support for vocational and academic training in these three areas.
The Moroccan minister argued that the inauguration of the Malawi embassy in Rabat on Monday, during this visit, will contribute to strengthening Rabat’s status as the premier African diplomatic capital.
Tembo will hold discussions with government officials on sectors related to bilateral cooperation, said Bourita, pointing out that despite the geographical distance, Morocco and Malawi aspire to establish practical, sectoral, and fruitful cooperation in line with the vision of HM King Mohammed VI.
Bourita thanked Tembo for the constructive and positive positions expressed by Lilongwe on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, as well as for the opening of a Malawian consulate in Laayoune.
For her part, Tembo emphasized that Malawi aims to strengthen its cooperation with the Kingdom in various fields and raise them to a new heights, especially through the implementation of the 2022-2024 cooperation roadmap.
In this regard, the Malawian minister expressed her country’s willingness to draw inspiration from the Moroccan experience in the development of agriculture, tourism, and the mining sector.
She also emphasized the importance of encouraging Malawian students to pursue higher education in Moroccan universities.
The Malawian minister is on an official visit to Morocco from December 17 to 21 for the inauguration of her country’s embassy in Rabat and the operationalization of its consulate general in Laayoune.
