1. Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon and Secretary of State Mounia Boucetta of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco held the 7th meeting of the Republic of Korea-Morocco Joint Committee at the Foreign Ministry on October 30. The two sides assessed the ROK-Morocco relations; reviewed the current state of cooperation in a range of areas, including economic and trade affairs, technological cooperation, development cooperation, education and culture; and discussed ways to increase cooperation between the two countries.

2. In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Yun said that Morocco was a representative ally where the ROK’s first diplomatic mission on the African continent was set up, and that this year could even be called the “year of Morocco, taking note of the increase in high-level exchanges between the two countries. In addition, as Morocco has potential as a country at the intersection of civilizations linking Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and as a strategically and economically important country, Deputy Minister Yun expressed hope that the ROK and Morocco would expand mutually-beneficial cooperation in various areas, including not only trade and investment, but development and environmental affairs.

o Secretary Boucetta, who led the Moroccan delegation, said that the Moroccan government was considering the ROK a development model in pushing its “Plan d’ acceleration” aimed at developing its economy, and said that her country very much hoped that the ROK would continue to share its development experience and know-how.

3. Deputy Minister Yun asked Morocco to pay attention to Korean companies’ bids to increase participation and direct investments in infrastructure and plant projects being actively pursued by the country.

o The Moroccan side said that they were well aware of the excellence of Korean companies, and voiced hope that Korean companies would continue to actively participate in a variety of infrastructure projects in Morocco, and work together on them.

4. The two countries agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on environmental affairs, and agreed to step up cooperation in new and renewable energy, water resources, and forestry, and to continue meaningful cooperation, jointly contributing to the protection of the Earth’s environment.

o In particular, in accordance with the “master plan to prevent floods in the Sebou river basin in Morocco,” which has been devised for the sustainable management of water resources in Morocco, the two sides agreed to continue to consult on follow-up projects, including those to build a flood forecasting and warning system, and to improve the dam operation system.

5. Secretary Boucetta said that the “automobile vocational training program” supported by the ROK as part of development cooperation projects was a representative exemplary case of cooperation between the two countries, and expressed appreciation to the ROK government for providing technological and financial support contributing to the social and economic development of Morocco.

o In addition, the two countries shared the view that cooperation on exchanges in the private sector, including education, culture and tourism, would serve as a foundation for developing the ROK-Morocco relations, and agreed to continue to work to cooperate in a balanced manner.

6. Immediately after the Joint Committee meeting, the heads of the delegations of the two sides signed the minutes of meeting, and concluded MOUs on forestry cooperation, and cooperation in higher education.

7. The 7th Joint Committee meeting, which came six years after the 6th meeting in 2012, served as an opportunity to review not only areas where cooperation was underway, but new areas for cooperation; to discuss the way forward for bilateral cooperation, and lay a foundation for increasing substantive cooperation; and to set out the long-term goal for bilateral cooperation, which is “joint contribution to the protection of the Earth’s environment.”

8. Meanwhile, Secretary Boucetta also met with Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Ju-young, and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) President Lee Mi-kyung, and discussed ways to expand substantive cooperation between the two countries, including in trade and investment.

* unofficial translation