Bensaid speaks with Dati in Paris and Morocco is the guest of honor at UNESCO Africa Week
Second meeting between Bensaid and Dati in less than a week
The Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, held bilateral talks with his French counterpart, the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, on Wednesday at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Culture in Paris. This is the second meeting between the two ministers in less than a week.
This meeting, which is part of Mr. Bensaid’s working visit to France, made it possible to reaffirm the exceptional relations which link Rabat and Paris and the positive dynamic between Morocco and France at the level of bilateral relations.
Strengthen bilateral cultural cooperation
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the cultural field, complementing the discussions started last Saturday in Cannes, where it was agreed to establish a joint roadmap for work and bilateral cooperation in the field. cultural.
Fight against the spoliation of intangible cultural heritage
Mr. Bensaid and Ms. Dati also raised the issue of protecting intangible cultural heritage against theft and pillaging. In this regard, Mr. Bensaid explained to his French counterpart that Morocco suffers from this phenomenon and that it strives to combat it by all means, which requires joint efforts in this area.
Intensify efforts and joint coordination
Morocco and France agreed to intensify their efforts and joint coordination at the level of international organizations, notably UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization, in order to combat the phenomenon of the theft of countries’ cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the culture ministers of the two countries discussed a number of files and subjects of common interest, notably cooperation in the field of archeology and artificial intelligence in the cultural field.
Distinguished Moroccan presence at UNESCO
At UNESCO, the Kingdom was honored as guest of honor during an official ceremony attended by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mr. Mehdi Bensaid, Ambassador , permanent delegate to UNESCO, Mr. Samir Addahre, the Moroccan ambassador to Paris, Ms. Samira Sitail, as well as several ministers, representatives of UNESCO member states and diplomats.
Celebration of the diversity and richness of Moroccan culture
Before the official opening this week, the delegations represented at UNESCO and the guests of this event were warmly welcomed to the sound of the rhythms of the Moroccan dakka and were able to visit the Moroccan pavilion, which embodies the richness and diversity of Moroccan culture and the ancestral know-how of Moroccan artisans.
Education and culture, pillars of African development
In his speech for the occasion, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, guest of honor at this event, welcomed the organization of UNESCO African Week to celebrate the diversity and wealth of the continent, while highlighting the challenges to be met, particularly in terms of education.
Mr. Bensaid stressed that “in a world today threatened by a demographic winter and widespread aging, Africa is the last continent to benefit from a vitality that is not only digital but also creative, dynamic and optimistic. “, noting that “African youth, if properly mobilized through education and cultural development, will allow our countries to benefit from the demographic dividend of the coming decades. It will be the starting point of our shared and pluralistic recovery: an economic, cultural, social and community recovery. »
