The Russian president commended, in a speech, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, expressing the wish to see bilateral relations evolve and go in the same momentum as that launched during His Majesty’s visit to Russia in 2016.
Referring to issues relating to food security in Africa and around the world, Putin praised the “considerable measures taken by His Majesty the King” to ease global tensions over food products.
Morocco is represented at this summit, which is attended by several African Heads of State and Government, by the government chief, Aziz Akhannouch, who reiterated Morocco’s “permanent attachment” to its relations with its various strategic partners.
On this occasion, he noted that the distinguished diplomatic relations that Morocco has had with Russia since the 18th century have been considerably strengthened since the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Moscow in 2016.
“During this visit, a deep strategic partnership was established, covering a wide range of areas of cooperation, including agriculture, energy, fisheries, science and technology, culture and higher education,” he recalled.
This Summit is taking place in a turbulent and uncertain international context, marked by instability and the escalation of conflicts and tensions in several regions of the world, he stressed.
In this context, the Head of Government outlined the essential and fundamental constants that underpin “Morocco’s position in the face of the current crises.”
According to him, these include respect for the territorial integrity of United Nations Member States, compliance with the principles of international law and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as the use of peaceful means to settle disputes and avoid the use of force.
“In this context, and in view of the challenges posed by the Ukrainian crisis to food and energy security, particularly on the African continent, the Kingdom of Morocco believes in the need to intensify efforts and encourage international and regional cooperation” to meet the challenges of this crisis, remove obstacles and build a future capable of ensuring food and energy security for all countries on the continent, Akhannouch added.
Akhannouch arrived in Saint Petersburg on Thursday to represent His Majesty King Mohammed VI at the second Russia-Africa Summit.
The Moroccan delegation participating in the summit also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, as well as Moroccan Ambassador to Russia Lotfi Bouchaara.
