Rabat- Morocco is a strategic partner for the Valencia region, said, on Monday in Rabat, head of the local government of the Valencia region Ximo Puig, highlighting the broad prospects for bilateral cooperation.

"For Spain and the Valencia region, Morocco is, of course, a strategic partner with which we can open up other prospects for cooperation," he said in a press statement at the end of his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita, stressing in this regard the great importance of security cooperation between the two countries.

The Spanish official stressed the importance of cooperation with Morocco in a number of areas, highlighting the progress made in trade between the two countries, which "has increased considerably over the past twenty years, whether regarding exports or imports.

" Referring to the region of Valencia, Puig said that the level of trade with Morocco has reached more than a billion euros, adding that the kingdom is considered the gateway to Europe towards Africa and that Spain constitutes the gateway of Africa to Europe, "which offers great opportunities for both parties".

He also said that his visit to Morocco is part of a greater openness that marks relations between the Valencia region and Morocco and within the framework of Spanish foreign policy. Puig is leading a trade mission from the Autonomous Community of Valencia, which is visiting the kingdom on February 16 to 19, to explore business opportunities and ways to strengthen bilateral economic relations.