A delegation from the House of Councillors, headed by the House's representative to the Andean Parliament, Abdelkader Salama, and including the Secretary of the House, Councillor Abdelrahman El Ouafa, and the House's representative to the Central American Parliament, Councillor Ahmed Lakhraif, met with the President of the Andean Parliament, René Daniel Camacho, on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum held in Panama City.
A statement from the House of Councillors indicated that the Moroccan delegation, on behalf of the Speaker and all members of the House, extended its warmest congratulations to the President of the Andean Parliament on his election, reaffirming the House of Councillors' commitment to further activating the agreed-upon cooperation mechanisms between the two institutions and enhancing parliamentary dialogue and coordination in a way that serves the values of South-South cooperation and rapprochement.
For his part, the President of the Andean Parliament commended the dynamic Moroccan presence within Latin American parliamentary organizations, noting the Kingdom's role in fostering communication and understanding, and the potential of parliamentary cooperation to strengthen regional integration and enhance the exchange of expertise between the two institutions.
The discussions also provided an opportunity to exchange views on prospects for developing bilateral relations, particularly with Bolivia. Several Bolivian parliamentarians, along with the Moroccan delegation, expressed their desire to give new impetus to cooperation between the two countries, especially in light of the newly elected Bolivian government's declared commitment to openness to the world and the strengthening of partnerships, particularly with African partners.
In this context, both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening communication and cooperation channels, including exploring ways to enhance diplomatic representation to support this approach and promote investment and trade opportunities.
In a related context, the Secretary General of the Andean Parliament, Eduardo Chilicuinga Mazón, praised the remarkable economic development achieved by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, particularly in the area of infrastructure. He considered Morocco's success in organizing major continental events and its readiness to host significant international sporting events as a testament to the Kingdom's advanced organizational and developmental capabilities.
He also reiterated the Andean Parliament's support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and its appreciation for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a serious and realistic proposal.
For his part, Mr. Lakhrif highlighted the importance of the Moroccan Parliament's institutional presence within the various regional parliamentary organizations in Latin America, which reflects the importance the Kingdom attaches to this region and its commitment to strengthening cooperation and dialogue at the political, economic, and cultural levels.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on continuing coordination and consultation between the Council of Advisors and the Andean Parliament, and working to develop additional cooperation prospects, in order to enhance the role of parliamentary diplomacy as a lever for rapprochement between peoples and to support development and stability.