Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Wednesday received Pedro Sánchez, President of the Kingdom of Spain, currently on a working visit to Morocco at the Royal Palace in Rabat.

This visit follows on from the new stage in bilateral relations, initiated by the meeting between His Majesty the King and the President of the Spanish Government, in April 2022, and the adoption, on that occasion, of the Joint Declaration between the two countries.

This new momentum is progressing satisfactorily. It is marked by strengthening cooperation, coordination and partnership in all fields, based on the principles of trust, mutual respect, ambition, good neighbourliness and respect for commitments.

During this Audience, the President of the Spanish Government reiterated to the King Spain’s position, contained in the joint declaration of April 2022, considering the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis to settle this dispute.

The King thanked Spain for this new constructive and important position.

His Majesty the King and Pedro Sánchez underlined unique cooperation prospects opening up for the two neighbouring countries.

The joint organisation, with Portugal, of the 2030 Football World Cup is a further lever for strengthening bilateral ties.

The President of the Spanish Government also welcomed and highlighted Spain's interest in the strategic initiatives launched by the King notably the African Atlantic Coastal Initiative, the Royal Initiative to enable Atlantic access for Sahel countries, and the Nigeria-Morocco African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline.

This audience was attended from the Spanish side, by José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and Emma Aparici, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs at the Presidency of the Government, and from the Moroccan side, by Fouad Ali El Himma, the King’s Advisor, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

On his arrival at the Royal Palace, the President of the Spanish government reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard who paid the honours, before being invited to the traditional ceremony of milk and date offers.