French ambassador marks National Day in Rabat with focus on Morocco ties

The French Embassy in Morocco hosted a reception in Rabat on Tuesday, July 14, to celebrate France's National Day. Addressing more than 1,500 guests, French Ambassador Philippe Lalliot highlighted a bilateral partnership firmly focused on the future.

«Here in Rabat, as in Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech and Laâyoune, where I was a few days ago to inaugurate the city's first Alliance Française, we are not merely talking about the future: we are building it, day after day», the ambassador said, in the presence of Mohamed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, who represented the Moroccan government.

Against this backdrop, Lalliot emphasized the breadth of the Morocco-France partnership, recalling President Emmanuel Macron's letter to King Mohammed VI in July 2024, in which France recognized that «the present and future of the Sahara» lie within the framework of Morocco's sovereignty. «French and Moroccan diplomacy are jointly promoting the fundamental principles that underpin the international order and multilateral organizations», he said.

The ambassador also noted that «France is the leading foreign investor and employer in Morocco, and many French companies contributed, more than a decade ago, to the rise of Moroccan industry». Looking ahead, he pointed to «the major milestones ahead and the challenges to be met» in further strengthening bilateral ties.

He outlined three key priorities: «to put forward common solutions to major international challenges and strengthen our security; to support one another in gaining influence in the sectors that will drive our economies tomorrow; and to deepen friendship and mutual understanding between our societies, especially among our young people, who embody the future of the Franco-Moroccan relationship».

Concluding his remarks, Philippe Lalliot praised the «human bond between the French and Moroccan peoples», saying it is reflected in «the vitality of the diasporas».