Marrakesh, Oct 15 (IANS): Morocco has urged African nations to pool their energies to develop a united and prosperous Africa.
“Our changing continent brings a message of hope and revival to the international community,” Morocco's King Mohammed VI said while addressing the 9th African Development Forum that kicked off here earlier this week.
“By uniting and pooling our energies, we shall rise together to the great challenge of the 21st century: that of a united, stable and prosperous Africa,” MAP news agency quoted the Moroccan king as saying.
According to King Mohammed VI, “the fact that African countries see eye to eye concerning the conditions required for the continent’s development and economic take-off means that there are strong synergies as well as tremendous prospects for complementarity” that these countries can build upon.
“Our continent is determined to adopt a proactive approach and set in motion a dynamic process for the emergence of a 'new Africa' -- an Africa which is proud of its identity; a modern Africa which has washed its hands of ideologies and archaic notions; a bold, enterprising Africa,” he said.
“This determination constitutes, in itself, a call to the international community for an objective approach to development issues in Africa.”
According to the monarch, African countries are committed to experimenting and implementing new, innovative approaches and “developing original, inclusive and mutually beneficial South-South cooperation programmes”.
Pointing out that Morocco has been constantly guided by this great ambition, he said: “In its relations with African sister nations, my country has been advocating a comprehensive, integrated approach that can at the same time promote peace and stability, enhance sustainable human development for all African men and women, ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States are respected and safeguard the cultural and spiritual identity of our peoples.”
He said Africa must learn to trust Africa and this is what would enable “our continent to muster all its assets and resources so as to make the most of the opportunities offered by globalisation”.