Bensaid: Morocco-France Friendship is a Path to a Shared Future
Rabat – Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, and French counterpart Rachida Dati met yesterday in Paris to discuss strengthening cultural cooperation between Morocco and France, building on a number of agreements signed recently.
The two ministers reviewed joint projects and discussed the need to accelerate their implementation, especially with the positive momentum in French-Moroccan relations.
This progress is largely driven by the enhanced 'exceptional partnership' established between King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, said the Moroccan Ministry of Culture in a press release.
Following the talks, the ministers co-hosted a reception in honor of the Moroccan delegation attending the Paris Book Fair, where Morocco is the guest of honor. The event was attended by prominent intellectual, cultural, media, and political figures from both France and Morocco.
During the reception, Bensaid expressed his appreciation for the Paris Book Fair's decision to spotlight Morocco, saying that the event represents 'the unbreakable bond' between the two countries. Morocco France culture ties
'Between the two shores of the Mediterranean, to say that memory and the past should not divide but unite; between Europe and Africa, to show that demographic and migration challenges can be transformed into opportunities for investment in what we hold most dear: culture and youth,' the minister said.
He noted how differences in language, beliefs, and historical narratives present an opportunity for 'creation, rather than conflict.'
Bensaid also recalled Morocco's vision for culture as key in the country's model of progress under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
He noted the importance of culture in fostering social inclusion, strengthening collective bonds, driving economic growth through creative industries, and serving as a hub for public debate and citizen participation.
The minister concluded by emphasizing that France shares this vision and aims to write 'a common book' with Morocco. This French-Moroccan friendship, he said, offers a vision for both continents, one that presents a new narrative, 'one that is passionate yet serene, rooted in the past but without resentment, and resolutely committed to a future of friendship and culture.' Tags: CultureMorocco and France
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