Morocco and Benin on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations, expressing satisfaction with the steady progress achieved in their partnership during talks held in Cotonou ahead of the seventh session of the Morocco-Benin Joint Cooperation Commission.
The discussions were led by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Beninese Foreign Minister Corinne Amori Brunet, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister in charge of Mobilizing External Resources and Managing Debt Hugues Oscar Lokossou. The two sides welcomed the significant advances made in bilateral cooperation since King Mohammed VI’s official visit to Benin in June 2004, describing the relationship as one built on longstanding friendship, mutual respect, and a shared vision for African development.
Both ministers reviewed the current state of cooperation and explored new avenues to deepen ties, reaffirming their determination to transform the Morocco-Benin partnership into a model of intra-African cooperation founded on solidarity, knowledge-sharing, and sustainable development. They also highlighted the strong relationship between King Mohammed VI and Beninese President Romuald Wadagni as a key driver of bilateral relations.
The talks identified a broad range of priority sectors for future collaboration, including the economy, trade, industry, investment, tourism, agriculture, justice, security, vocational training, higher education, scientific research, healthcare, digital transformation, and culture.
The two countries also pledged to strengthen economic cooperation by encouraging greater participation from their private sectors, with the aim of boosting trade, attracting investment, and supporting development financing.
The meeting preceded the seventh session of the Morocco-Benin Joint Cooperation Commission, which seeks to reinforce political dialogue and expand practical cooperation between the two countries across strategic sectors.
