Viet Nam and Morocco Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tết) Festival, Moroccan Ambassador to Viet Nam, Jamale Chouaibi, underscored the consolidated cooperation between Viet Nam and Morocco as a result of their shared commitment to promote and strengthen South-South cooperation.

Ambassador Chouaibi highlighted the tangible manifestation of this commitment through numerous visits by high-ranking government and parliament delegations, as well as the signing of cooperation agreements across various fields. The diplomatic ties between Morocco and Việt Nam, established over 60 years ago, have evolved fruitfully in multiple spheres.

Pointing to the similarities in the foreign policy orientations of both nations, Chouaibi emphasized Morocco’s significant role as the 11th largest contributor to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations in 2023, with over 1,700 peacekeepers deployed in different African countries. He noted that both countries hold crucial geopolitical positions, with Viet Nam serving as a gateway to Southeast Asia and Morocco acting as an economic bridge between Africa and Europe.

Expressing confidence in the growth of cooperation in the future, the ambassador emphasized that Viet Nam and Morocco are emerging, dynamic economies with sustainable growth, actively working to diversify their trade partners.

Ambassador Chouaibi recalled a workshop held on the sidelines of African Day in Hanoi last May, which focused on accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. The workshop explored contributions and opportunities generated by the agreement for countries interested in investing in Africa, including Viet Nam, and highlighted prospects for cooperation between Viet Nam and African nations, particularly Morocco.

While acknowledging that bilateral trade has room for growth, the ambassador noted its consistent increase, making Viet Nam the second most important economic partner of Morocco in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He emphasized Viet Nam’s strategic focus on expanding its economic partner network and expressed confidence that Morocco could assist Vietnamese firms in accessing African markets easily and safely.

Ambassador Chouaibi proposed joint initiatives for trilateral or quadrilateral cooperation activities in African countries, particularly in agriculture, with the participation of international donors. Both countries have ambitious plans for cooperation in renewable energy, digital transformation, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and logistics, industry, and technology, aiming to become leading emerging economies in their respective regions.

In 2017, Morocco became the first African and Arab country to join the Mekong River Commission (MRC) as a partner member, which includes Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Morocco has actively contributed to the MRC, financing the construction of an educational center in Vientiane, Laos, focused on developing training programs related to the history of the Mekong River and the opportunities and challenges in the region.

Ambassador Chouaibi also highlighted the potential for cooperation between Vietnamese and Moroccan localities, particularly the twinning relationship between Casablanca, Morocco’s industrial and financial center, and Ho Chi Minh City of Viet Nam, which is expected to create new momentum for bilateral cooperation.

As Viet Nam approaches Tết, Ambassador Chouaibi extended warm wishes to the Vietnamese people, hoping for a New Year filled with happiness, prosperity, opportunities, and successes.