Says Ambassador Rachadi of Morocco at National Day reception

Ambassador Chafik Rachadi of the Kingdom of Morocco in Seoul said, “Today, despite the geographic divide between our two countries, the Republic of Korea can rely on the Kingdom of Morocco as an opening to the African space, just as Morocco can rely on the Republic of Korea as an opening for it to the Asian-Pacific Region.”

Ambassador Chafik Rachadi of Morocco speaks to the guests.

Speaking to an estimated 400 distinguished guests from Korean society and the international community at the Moroccan National Day celebration at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on July 31, 2017, Ambassador Rachadi disclosed, “Morocco has now become the second African investor in the continent, which makes it capable of playing a hub role for Korean companies in their effort to explore new markets in this region, and qualifies itself to be an essential partner of Korea in its development initiatives towards the African continent.” (See excerpts from the speech of the ambassador toward the end of this report.)
Ambassador Rachadi’s welcome speech was responded to by a

Deputy Minister Cho june-hyuck for Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes a congratulatory speech.

congratulatory speech by and Deputy Minister Cho june-hyuck for Public Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. DM Cho said in part: “Morocco, a country bridging Africa, Europe and the Middle East, is one of the world’s oldest Kingdoms. It is blessed with venerable traditions and a rich cultural heritage. Under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed the Sixth, Morocco is travelling the path towards prosperity and stability on a solid basis of national unity.”
Then he stated, “Morocco is also actively reaching out to the world, in particular in Africa as illustrated by its recent return to the African Union, and farther east in Asia.”

Chairman Kim Ok-youle of Hwashin Corporation makes congratulatory remarks.

The reception was attended by many distinguished guests from all walks of life in Korea as well as from the diplomatic community. Among them, besides Deputy Minister Cho, were Chairman Kim Ok-youle of Hwashin Corporation, Director Joong-hyun Jough of KOIMA, Director Abid of AH Group Korea, and Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post media.
Attendance from the Seoul Diplomatic Corps was also very large, and included many senior diplomats including ambassadors who attended the reception with their spouses.
Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Rachadi:
I should like first to share with you my happiness and my profound joy to meet you today. Please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation of your accepting our invitation to share with us these moments while we are celebrating this happy occasion, so dear to all Moroccans. I should also like at the start to thank Your Excellency, Mr. Cho June-Hyuck, for joining us today as a representative of the Government of the Republic of Korea in this celebration, assuring you of the pride we take in our mutual confidence and the friendly ties linking our two countries and peoples.
Please allow me, ladies and gentlemen, on this special occasion to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Government, whishing them and the people of the Republic of Korea continuing success in their endeavor towards achieving further progress and prosperity.
My thanks also go to their Excellencies Ambassadors, Chargés d’affaires and diplomats in the Republic of Korea, to Mr. Kim Ok Poly, Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco, and to the Moroccan community coming today to add to our pleasure and enhance the symbolic of this occasion that today is getting us together.
We are celebrating today The Throne Day, which is marking this year the eighteenth anniversary of the accession of His Majesty Mohammed VI, may God assist him, to the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco. This celebration is a special and strong occasion for the Moroccan people with all its components as it is a symbol of the values of love, loyalty, constant willingness to sacrifice, faithfulness and the strong ties linking the king to his people, based on a firm pledge of allegiance and the ensuing mutual obligations.

Mrs. Rachadi (spouse of the Moroccan ambassador), poses with the spouses of the other ambassadors. Mrs. Vitali Fen (wife of the Uzbek ambassador) is seen on the right behind Mrs. Rachadki, who is now in Korea with her husband, former dean of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps, as well as Uzbek ambassador to Korea.

If the Moroccan State is deeply rooted in history with a profound memory and civilizational dimension, the Morocco Monarchy is also one of the oldest in the world. Indeed, the successive kings of the Moroccan state were the authors of bright moments that are proudly marking history
Morocco contemporary history has in turn been marked by one of the strongest moments of presence, performance and unity between the people and the throne. We recall with great pride the sacrifices of His Majesty the late Mohammed V for liberation and independence.
In the same perspective, the late King Hassan II followed the path for building a modern State open on its regional and international environment and defending just and legitimate international causes.
Today, the heir of the throne, King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, is continuing to secure the path of reform, democratization and modernization, enhancing the state of institutions and seeking to establish a cohesive and united society around the values of openness, moderation, tolerance and dialogue.
The Kingdom of Morocco, during His Majesty's reign, witnessed a qualitative leap in various political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and other fields, taking advantage of the prevailing beneficial conditions.
As part of this new and innovative dynamic, our country adopted a series of constructive structural reforms, with a focus on economy. A number of sector specific plans were launched and a number of measures were adopted to improve business climate and promote foreign investment. Solid foundations were laid for economic partnerships between the state and the private sector with a resulting significant contribution to the acceleration of the economic and development process together with the rehabilitation and the provision of new infrastructure.
Within the same framework, the Kingdom of Morocco made of the path of democracy and respect for human rights its basic orientation while seeking distinction by harmony and complementarily between its national achievements and its international obligations, opening up to the world by dealing with all partners based on mutual respect and common interest.
The ties between our two countries are actually dating back to well before 1962, when diplomatic relations were established between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Korea. But since their establishment, the two countries have been working together to enhance the bonds of friendship, understanding and cooperation between them in various fields. Our bilateral relations can now be described as unique on the political, economic and cultural levels. The legal framework governing relations between our two countries is a good example of this. Indeed, many agreements and memorandums of understanding are currently covering most areas of cooperation such as trade, industry, economy, sciences, techniques, culture, sports, transport, investment, media, modern technology, communication, training and others.
We are now also coordinating our positions both at the regional level and in international forums on issues of mutual interest, including maintaining international peace and security, confronting common security threats and defending values and principles that help both our countries achieve their goals of sustainable development and coexistence.
While the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Korea share common values and principles, a close historical, civilizational and human heritage, as well as a shared view to the future, all that symbolic capital that brings us together still needs more efforts, work and investment in the capabilities offered by our countries and our two peoples. We need to move forwards with initiatives to enhance this remarkable partnership and consolidate our cooperation to better and stronger levels. The economic aspect, which is at the forefront of building a strong partnership, requires efficient and continuing efforts by all of us to overcome the hardships that are preventing the optimal use of the opportunities available, in view of building on the profits of bilateral cooperation as an added value to open new horizons for cooperation in various fields with the aim bringing up the relation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Korea to the level of strategic partnership.
Today, we believe that, despite the geographic divide between our two countries, the Republic of Korea can rely on the Kingdom of Morocco as an opening to the African space, just as Morocco can rely on the Republic of Korea as opening for it to the Asian-Pacific Region. Morocco has recently adopted, thanks to the wise policy of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, an innovative strategy in its trade and economic relations with the African countries. Morocco has now become the second African investor in the continent, which makes of it capable of playing a hub role for Korean companies in their effort to explore new markets in this region, and qualifies it to be an essential partner of the Republic of Korea in its development initiatives towards the African continent, within the framework of the diplomatic and strategic orientation of the two countries to establish effective South-South cooperation.
No doubt that the firm, shared and strong will of our two countries and peoples will be a cornerstone for us to achieve further development, prosperity and a decent life.
Within this context of bilateral relations and cooperation perspective between our two countries, I would like to take this opportunity once again to express our thanks to the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Agency for International Cooperation for their continuous support to several development projects in Morocco in the fields of industry, energy, automobile, fighting cybercrime and others. Your Excellency Cho June-Hyuck,
Your sharing with us the commemoration of the 18th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, to the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco is indeed a token for the distinguished relations between our countries and our peoples, which we are all seeking to enhance and upgrade in the realm of an international reality requiring our continuous efforts, initiatives and large scale coordination in order to promote international peace and security and contribute to the creation of an international community based on the values of tolerance, moderation and dialogue. Once again, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to this ceremony, organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, hoping that our common relations will continue with further progress, prosperity and stability.

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