Strengthening Bilateral Relations
On Friday, Swiss Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis welcomed his Moroccan counterpart, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in Bern, where they engaged in discussions covering a range of critical topics including migration, research, education, climate change, the Western Sahara issue, and economic collaboration. According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, both ministers praised the solid relations that exist between Switzerland and Morocco, which are reinforced by a trade exchange valued at nearly one billion Swiss francs and Swiss investments in Morocco amounting to approximately 650 million francs.
Key Areas of Focus
During their meeting, the two nations agreed to deepen their collaborative efforts, particularly regarding the Western Sahara situation. The Swiss government reaffirmed its support for a process led by the United Nations, emphasizing that Morocco's proposed autonomy plan is seen as a "serious, credible, and pragmatic" foundation for achieving a lasting solution in alignment with UN Security Council resolutions. Another significant topic was the issue of migration; Switzerland and Morocco have initiated discussions to improve repatriation procedures and enhance consular cooperation. Cassis noted that these efforts demonstrate the effectiveness of their partnership.
Moreover, both politicians reiterated their commitment to multilateralism, which they view as a crucial mechanism for maintaining international peace and security, especially within the context of peacekeeping missions. In Switzerland, there are approximately 24,000 Moroccan citizens residing, while 1,750 Swiss nationals live in Morocco.
As reported by nau.ch.
