Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita received the Mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafos, yesterday Tuesday in Rabat. The mayor is on an official visit to the Kingdom.
On this occasion, Delafos praised the historic friendship between Morocco and France.
In statements to the press following the meeting, Delafos said, “This relationship should be built on equal foundations, as we have much to learn from each other,” expressing the desire of both sides to write new chapters within this framework.
He called for the mobilization of all stakeholders, particularly city mayors, cultural and sports actors, and academics, to promote the movement of students and researchers and to build bridges for exchange and cooperation between the two countries. Delafos also took the opportunity to affirm Montpellier’s support for France’s stance on Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.
He added that the discussions also touched on Montpellier’s commitment to accompany Morocco and share its expertise, especially with the city of Fez, which is twinned with Montpellier, as part of the preparations underway for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
The French mayor expressed pride in the engagement and vibrancy of the Moroccan community in France in general, and in Montpellier specifically, noting that it serves as an important mechanism for strengthening relations between France and Morocco through the participation of its members, both men and women, across various fields, and the diverse connections they weave that give these relations a strong character.
