Moroccan head of government Aziz Akhannouch held talks with his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu in Rabat on Thursday as the two countries convened the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, aimed at advancing the implementation of their renewed strategic partnership.
The meeting follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024, during which Paris endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the basis for resolving the dispute, paving the way for a significant reset in bilateral relations after several years of diplomatic tensions.
According to a statement from the head of government’s Office, the talks were attended by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Morocco’s ambassador to France, Samira Sitail. The French delegation included Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and French ambassador to Morocco Philippe Lalliot.
Akhannouch said the high-level meeting serves as the main government mechanism for monitoring the “Enhanced Exceptional Partnership” launched by King Mohammed VI and President Macron. He said it would assess progress made on commitments agreed by both countries and identify new strategic projects for the next phase of bilateral cooperation.
The visit is expected to produce agreements across several sectors, including transport, infrastructure, energy, security, education and investment, reflecting the broader expansion of political and economic ties between Rabat and Paris.
The Moroccan government said the meeting comes amid an unprecedented strengthening of bilateral relations, driven in part by France’s shift on the Sahara issue, which Rabat considers a cornerstone of its foreign policy. The two sides are also expected to review the implementation of agreements signed since Macron’s visit and discuss new avenues for cooperation in Africa and the Mediterranean region.
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