Morocco and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties on Monday, with both sides expressing a desire to move toward more concrete, results-oriented cooperation across several strategic sectors.
The commitment came during a meeting in Jakarta between ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and Morocco’s newly appointed ambassador to the organization, Redouane Houssaini, who presented his credentials at ASEAN headquarters, the institution said in a statement. Kao congratulated Houssaini on his appointment and reaffirmed the secretariat’s commitment to deepening the sectoral dialogue partnership the two sides established in 2023.
The ASEAN chief also welcomed the positive momentum in relations and called for stronger Moroccan engagement with the organization’s various sectoral bodies to help translate the existing institutional framework into concrete, mutually beneficial initiatives going forward.
For his part, Houssaini pointed to Morocco’s potential role as a bridge between Southeast Asia and Africa, citing the kingdom’s strategic geographic position, infrastructure and longstanding ties across the African continent. He highlighted opportunities for triangular cooperation involving ASEAN, Morocco and Africa in trade, investment and development. Discussions also reflected shared principles between the two sides, including dialogue, moderation, respect for state sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The meeting marks a new step in the institutional development of Morocco’s relationship with the bloc. Morocco acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2016 and became an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner in September 2023, the first North African country to obtain that status. Houssaini succeeds Ambassador Ouadia Benabdellah, whose tenure ended in April 2025.
