(VNF) - A delegation of Morocco's High Commission for Former Resistance Fighters and Member of the Liberation Army, led by its High Commissioner Dr. El Mostafa El Ktiri, had a meeting with Vice President in-charge and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organization (VUFO), Mr. Don Tuan Phong in Hanoi on March 28^th.

At the meeting at the headquarters of VUFO.

Mr. Phong spoke highly of bilateral ties between Vietnam and Morocco over the past years. The two countries have held exchange visits by delegations at different levels, signed and brought into force a number of agreements of cooperation and partnership, and increased the bilateral trade volumes.

Morocco was one of the first African and Arabian nations to ink the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) with ASEAN, he added.

He then suggested the two countries boost cooperation to increase exchanges of delegations and maintain close coordination.

The VUFO President also expressed his hope that the newly-established Morocco-Vietnam Friendship Association with support from State agencies and people in both countries, will make worthy contributions to strengthen and promote the comradeship, friendship and effective cooperation between the two countries.

He hoped with his experience and position, the High Commissioner would help bolster bilateral ties in all spheres, thereby benefiting both countries and contributing to regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.

As the head of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador Azzediine Farhane also will coordinate closely with the VUFO, the Vietnam-Africa Friendship and Cooperation Association, and Vietnamese localities in carrying out people-to-people diplomatic activities, VUFO Vice President Phong added.

Delegation of the High Commission for Former Resistance Fighters and Member of the Liberation Army, led by its High Commissioner Dr. El Mostafa El Ktiri (third, right) and Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam Azzediine Farhane (fourth, right) at the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, High Commissioner Dr. El Mostafa El Ktiri hailed the maturity of the bonds that tie Morocco and Vietnam to one another.

The shared historical memory between Morocco and Vietnam serves as a solid platform to reinforce and widen bilateral relations to include initiatives of South-South cooperation in Africa and Eastern Asia, he added.

The meeting, which took place a few days after the establishment of the Morocco-Vietnam Friendship Association, was an opportunity for people of two countries to beef up cooperation and mutual support in issues of common concern and at regional and international forums, and to popularise images of each country’s people, culture and arts, Dr. El Mostafa El Ktiri said.

The High Commissioner also briefed the attendants the Morocco-Vietnam Friendship Association. He said that the Association members are mostly people who came to Vietnam and have special feelings for the country and Vietnamese peoples.

The Association has the following main objectives: to establish and strengthen the friendship of the two peoples in all fields of mutual interest; to facilitate information exchanges between government agencies as well as agencies; to honour the historical values and the achievements of the two countries; to support for joint initiatives and activities to promote friendship between the two peoples.

He also hoped Vietnam would establish a Vietnam – Morocco Friendship Association in the near future to bolster ties between Vietnam and Morocco further more.

VUFO Vice President Don Tuan Phong (M), High Commissioner Dr. El Mostafa El Ktiri (R) and Ambassador Azzediine Farhane pose for a photo.

For his part, Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam Azzediine Farhane stressed that Morocco treasured its ties with Vietnam - a gateway for the country to promote collaboration with Southeast Asia, adding that Morocco was willing to act as a bridge for boosting the relations between Vietnam and African countries.

He agreed with the VUFO Vice President that the two countries would need to enhance cooperation in people-to-people diplomatic activities.

Expressing his thanks to High Commissioner El Mostafa El Ktiri and Ambassador Azzeddine Farhane for providing such useful information, VUFO Vice President Don Tuan Phong emphasized that, in the coming time, VUFO will actively study and prepare for the establishment of the Vietnam-Morocco Friendship Association to work out a common plan of action and promote the development of future cooperation./.

Phuong Nguyen