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King Mohammed VI, Francois Hollande Reiterate Trust in Bilateral Partnership | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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France’s President Francois Hollande welcomes Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on May 2, 2017. (AP)


Rabat – Moroccan King Mohammed VI held talks with French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday at the Elysee Palace as the two parties reiterated the depth of partnership between their two countries.

Elysee sources said that the talks discussed political and cultural affairs and lasted for 20 minutes before the king and the president headed to a luncheon in the presence of members of the governments, friends of Morocco and France and members of civil society, in a symbol of the strong and multifaceted ties between the two countries, said a statement by the Moroccan Royal Office.

The statement noted that the two heads of state expressed their mutual feelings of esteem and respect, which they said were the basis of the renewal of French-Moroccan partnerships in security, sustainable development, culture and education.

The two leaders expressed their confidence in the vitality of this exceptional partnership, which maintains a strategic scope for the two countries bilaterally and also at the level of Euro-Mediterranean and African development, the statement added.

Hollande congratulated King Mohammed on his Kingdom’s return to the African Union and welcomed Morocco’s strong initiatives towards the development of the continent.

For his part, King Mohammed VI thanked the French president for his personal commitment to French-Moroccan friendship and assured him of Morocco’s support in strengthening and deepening relations between the two countries, the statement said.

The Moroccan King was the first head of state to be received by Hollande following the latter’s election in May 24, 2012.

This visit comes during Hollande’s final days in the Elysee Palace as his mandate is expected to end in mid-May.