Arab nations are looking to upgrade their relationship with Russia to the level of strategic dialogue, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita told the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Marrakesh.
"We are interested in raising the level of our interaction to strategic dialogue, so that this partnership is fruitful and in the interest of both sides, contributing to the strengthening of stability and security in the region," he told the plenary meeting.
The top Moroccan diplomat hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavron on Wednesday for talks that he said affirmed the spirit of cooperation between the two nations. He said Morocco wanted to draw up a roadmap for bolstering cooperation with Russia.
"We are interested in moving closer together with Russia in such areas as politics, the economy and humanitarian affairs, in order to solve regional problems peacefully," he said.
Bourita emphasized Russia’s status as a global power, its historical presence in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as its deep ties to the Arab world and understanding of processes in the region — all of which gives it an edge in solving regional problems.