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French President Emmanuel Macron has extended an invitation to King Mohammed VI to attend the prestigious Salon de l'Agriculture in Paris, set for February 22 to March 2, 2025. Morocco has been designated as the guest of honor for this edition, mirroring France's role as the guest of honor at the upcoming Salon International de l'Agriculture de Meknès (SIAM), scheduled from April 21 to 27. According to Le Monde, the Moroccan monarch has yet to respond to this official invitation.
Should King Mohammed VI accept, this would mark his first visit to France since 2018, symbolizing a significant step towards strengthening ties between the two nations. This invitation follows France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, announced during the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day. The recognition was part of a series of diplomatic gestures, including President Macron's state visit to Rabat from October 28 to 30, 2024.
During Macron's visit, the two countries signed 22 agreements aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors, notably agriculture. Additionally, King Mohammed VI and President Macron endorsed a «Partnership of Exceptional Strength», designed to tackle shared challenges effectively.
The upcoming Salon de l'Agriculture in Paris is expected to host a substantial Moroccan delegation. Le Monde reports that agricultural trade between the two nations has been flourishing, buoyed by increased French cereal exports and rising Moroccan fruit and vegetable exports. Organizers of SIAM 2025 have previously emphasized that selecting France as the guest of honor underscores «the excellent relations between the two countries».
Macron's invitation also coincides with tensions in the agricultural sector, as French farming organizations have initiated legal proceedings against what they term as «unfair competition» from Morocco. Earlier this year, the Conseil d'Etat dismissed the Confédération Paysanne's attempt to ban imports of cherry tomatoes and melons from the Charente region, labeled as originating from the Sahara.
The Court of Cassation ruled that «the prohibition measure requested by the association falls within the remit of the European authorities, and that the ministers responsible for the economy and agriculture could not legally prohibit» these imports into France.
