Morocco is EU's 1st trade partner in Africa: EU Commission president

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - Morocco is the first partner of the European Union in the economic and commercial fields on the African continent, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Rabat with Morrocan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, von der Leyen reaffirmed the will of the EU to continue to deepen its "strategic, close and solid" partnership with Morocco, the Moroccan News Agency (MAP) reported.

The visit was her first to the kingdom as EU Commission president.

Von der Leyen also highlighted the contributions of Europeans living in Morocco and Moroccans living in Europe to the mutual enrichment of cultures that have influenced each other for centuries.

She pointed out that her meeting with the head of government was an opportunity to discuss the global challenges facing Morocco and Europe, adding that in order to meet these challenges, both sides must find solutions together within the framework of their partnership.