Historic Visit Strengthens Partnership: Morocco and ASEAN Outline Renewed Multidimensional Cooperation

ALDAR/

Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, welcomed Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for an official visit to Morocco from June 24 to 26, 2025.

This visit marked a significant milestone in reaffirming the strength of Moroccan-Asian relations and in charting practical pathways to enhance joint cooperation—both on a bilateral level with individual ASEAN member states and through ASEAN’s collective mechanisms.

During their meeting, Minister Bourita expressed deep gratitude for the support ASEAN countries extended to Morocco in its process of acquiring the status of “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” within the association—a designation granted in September 2023, reflecting regional recognition of Morocco’s growing diplomatic role. Dr. Kao, in turn, praised Morocco’s consistent commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN, stating that this engagement opens new avenues for practical cooperation between the two sides.

The ASEAN Secretary-General commended Morocco’s participation in several ASEAN-related frameworks, including its status as a partner in the Mekong River Commission since 2017, its observer role in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly since 2020, and its affiliate membership in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) since 2021. He highlighted that this involvement reflects Morocco’s long-term strategic vision for building robust South-South cooperation.

Minister Bourita emphasized that deepening ties with ASEAN aligns with the strategic vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, centered on diversifying international partnerships and promoting solidarity with countries of the Global South. He underlined the importance of developing realistic, mutually beneficial partnerships based on a “win-win” approach.

Both parties reaffirmed their full agreement on the core principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, particularly respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. These shared values lend strong ethical and political foundations to the Morocco-ASEAN partnership.

Discussions also focused on major initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, including the “Atlantic Access Initiative for Sahel Countries,” the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project, and the Atlantic African States Initiative. Dr. Kao recognized these projects as powerful drivers enabling ASEAN countries to engage more effectively with Africa through Morocco as a strategic gateway.

Both sides agreed that Morocco constitutes an ideal geo-economic platform for ASEAN countries seeking entry into African markets, while ASEAN offers Morocco strategic opportunities to expand its presence in Asia and integrate with its dynamic economies.

Dr. Kao expressed strong appreciation for Morocco’s contribution to funding the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) in Cambodia and its support for establishing an education center under the Mekong River Commission in Laos. He also highlighted the pivotal role played by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) in supporting training and technical assistance programs for ASEAN and African countries.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the training programs provided by the Moroccan Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IMFRED) for ASEAN diplomats and expressed their desire to expand these initiatives, which play a key role in fostering mutual understanding and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

Both parties welcomed the upcoming second session of the Morocco-ASEAN Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee, scheduled to take place in Jakarta at the end of 2024, and looked forward to holding the third session in November 2025. Dr. Kao also commended Morocco’s active participation in ASEAN events across a wide range of fields, including human rights, transport, development, smart cities, and social cooperation.

The meeting concluded with a strong reaffirmation of both sides’ commitment to intensifying and expanding cooperation—bilaterally and collectively—between Morocco and ASEAN, in pursuit of a model partnership between Africa and Asia that reflects the aspirations of their peoples and contributes to shared stability and prosperity.