Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, received Michaël Delafosse, the Mayor of Montpellier, in Rabat on Tuesday during the latter's visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Following the meeting, in a statement to the press, Delafosse praised the longstanding friendship between Morocco and France.
«This relationship must be considered on equal terms, as we have much to learn from each other», he emphasized, expressing the shared desire to forge new chapters within this framework.
Delafosse also advocated for the mobilization of all stakeholders, including mayors, cultural, sports, and academic figures, to promote student and researcher mobility and to build bridges between the two countries. He took the opportunity to highlight the City of Montpellier's support for France's position on Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara.
Discussions further centered on Montpellier's commitment to support and share its expertise with Morocco, particularly with the city of Fez, which is twinned with the French city, in organizing the 2030 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
The French mayor expressed his pride in the engagement and dynamism of the Moroccan community in France, and particularly in Montpellier, noting its significant contribution to the relationship between France and Morocco, where men and women are active across all sectors, fostering a strong connection.