Rabat Hosts ASEAN Forum to Strengthen Morocco–Southeast Asia Cooperation
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Mohammed V University’s Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences hosted ambassadors and representatives of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this evening in Rabat for a regional forum aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, political, and cultural cooperation between Morocco and ASEAN member states.
The event highlighted the growing importance of Morocco’s engagement with Southeast Asia and underscored the academic and diplomatic bridges being built between the two regions.
Morocco as a Bridge Between Africa and Asia
In his opening remarks, Mohammed Rhachi, President of Mohammed V University, emphasized that events such as this forum are instrumental in connecting Africa and Asia through academic and diplomatic collaboration.
He noted that the forum is not merely a platform for discussion but “a call to action for the Moroccan academic community” to actively engage in future partnerships. Rhachi described the gathering as “an invitation for our researchers to join projects on sustainability, digital humanities, and social sciences,” while also encouraging Moroccan students to explore exchange opportunities in Asian universities and to welcome Asian students wishing to experience Morocco’s rich cultural heritage.
“For scholars, the mission is to collaborate in creating a new and shared narrative of partnership, which lies at the core mission of the university,” he added.
Diplomatic Presence from Across Southeast Asia
The forum brought together ASEAN diplomatic leaders, including:
- Fabio Chinda, Ambassador of Thailand in Morocco and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Rabat (ACR)
- Leslie J. Baja, Ambassador of the Philippines
- Le Kim Quy, Ambassador of Vietnam
- Dato’ Shahabudeen Adam Shah, Ambassador of Malaysia
- Nur Hafizah Al-Islam bint Awang Mahani, Chargée d’Affaires of Brunei Darussalam
- Sutar Windargo, Chargé d’Affaires of Indonesia
They were received by President Rhachi and Laila Mounir, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences.
Shared Vision and Expanding Cooperation
Speaking to Morocco World News, ASEAN Committee Chair and Thai Ambassador Fabio Chinda stated that Morocco and ASEAN nations share a commitment to peace. “We connect in our thinking, export our peace to the world, and I think we will be working closely together,” he said. Chinda highlighted Morocco’s strong potential to contribute to ASEAN’s three cooperation pillars: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural.
Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Shahabudeen Adam Shah also expressed satisfaction with the growing ties, noting “significant improvement and stronger relations in the past two years, especially in trade and economic cooperation.” He thanked the Moroccan government for its support in providing opportunities for Malaysian students to study in Morocco.
Academic Partnerships as Lasting Bridges
In her remarks, Acting Dean Laila Mounir called the forum a vital platform for enhancing relations between Morocco and ASEAN. She stressed the importance of academic and scientific dialogue, noting that such cooperation creates opportunities for Moroccan students to pursue studies abroad.
“Both Morocco and ASEAN countries are driven by shared intellectual values and a common vision of openness and dialogue,” she said. “We firmly believe that academic partnerships are the key to building lasting bridges between our regions.”
Mounir praised the university’s partnerships with Asian institutions, the presence of Asian students on campus, and the collaborative initiatives that continue to strengthen ties with ASEAN nations. “This partnership reflects our commitment to promoting knowledge, cultural literacy, and academic excellence,” she added.
ASEAN: A Growing Regional Community
Established in 1967 by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, ASEAN has since expanded to include Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste—bringing the total membership to eleven countries. The organization remains committed to fostering peace, stability, and regional cooperation.
The forum in Rabat marked an important milestone in Morocco’s engagement with ASEAN nations, reinforcing the shared vision of building stronger academic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between the two regions.
