At a press conference following his meeting with his Guinean counterpart, Mr. Bourita explained that it was agreed to encourage visits by the ministers of the departments of agriculture, industry and mining, in order to identify opportunities arising in the context of strengthening sectoral cooperation, stressing that Kouyate's visit is a prelude to other visits by Guinean officials.

He also stressed that it was agreed to develop consular cooperation and encourage visits from both sides in the fields of health, economy and tourism.

Mr. Bourita pointed out that the Joint Commission to be held in July in Dakhla will be an opportunity to sign cooperation agreements and agree on a set of initiatives to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Describing as exemplary the relations between the two countries in all fields, Mr. Bourita stressed that there is constant concertation and coordination on numerous issues, in addition to cooperation through a set of projects launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI during the Sovereign's visits to Conakry, which have greatly contributed to strengthening and developing these relations.

"Our relations are also based on mutual support," the minister declared, hailing the firm position of Guinea which has always supported the Moroccan autonomy plan.

"Morocco stands by Guinea at this important stage of its contemporary history, and supports the stability and development of this brotherly African country," he continued.

The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Guinea agreed Tuesday in Rabat to further strengthen their partnership under the sign of South-South cooperation, which should enable the private sectors of the two countries to continue to play an important role in boosting economic exchanges.

For his part, Mr. Kouyate described relations with Morocco as historic, welcoming the good practices of cooperation established between the two countries.

The head of Guinean diplomacy has highlighted the particularity of cooperation with Morocco, especially in the field of training, recalling in this context the training of Guinean military in Morocco.

The Guinean minister also affirmed the respect by his country of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom. "The territorial integrity of Morocco must be respected and we respect it," he said, stressing that the United Nations is the exclusive framework for discussions on the Sahara issue.

"This exclusive framework requires that there are concrete, practical, realistic and achievable proposals," he noted, arguing that the autonomy plan, presented by the Kingdom, "is today the only initiative that meets these criteria.