The Seattle Sounders, winners of the Concacaf Champions League, will begin their adventure in the Club World Cup by facing the Egyptian club Al Ahly of Cairo, which dominated the New Zealand club Auckland City, representative of the Oceania Football Confederation, in the first round match of the competition.

Seattle Sounders FC is the first Major League Soccer (MLS) team to lift the Concacaf trophy and the first U.S. club to play in the Club World Cup, which is being held for the third time in Morocco.

The PSC of the AU "adopts the Declaration of the AU Assembly on the promotion of the link between Peace, Security and Development in Africa, entitled 'Tangier Declaration'" and decides to submit it "for consideration and adoption by the Assembly of the Union at the 36th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government to be held in February 2023," the Council said in a statement issued on Thursday at the end of its 1134th meeting held on 27 January on the review of the Tangier Declaration.

The PSC "welcomes the holding of the AU Political Conference on promoting the link between Peace, Security and Development in Africa, which took place from 25 to 27 October 2022 in Tangier (Kingdom of Morocco), and which brought together multiple stakeholders, including AU Member States, AU bodies and institutions, regional economic communities, representatives of the United Nations and its agencies, African development institutions, civil society organizations, academia, professionals, youth and women's groups, and development partners," the statement said.

The PSC, the statement added, "pays tribute to the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for its efforts in hosting the AU Political Conference on promoting the link between Peace, Security and Development in Africa" and "commends the AU Commission, in collaboration with the Kingdom of Morocco and all relevant partners, for successfully organizing the AU Political Conference".

The PSC also expresses "its deep appreciation to all partners and stakeholders for the support provided to ensure the success of the Political Conference and their participation, and calls on AU Member States, the AU Commission, the Regional Economic Communities and partners to work towards the implementation of the Tangier Declaration in a well-coordinated manner, and on the AU Commission to lead these initiatives to ensure synergy and broad participation of all stakeholders working on the nexus of peace, security and development”.

"The two countries are committed to the promotion of trade and investment, for the implementation of joint development projects in the framework of a win-win partnership, taking advantage of the new Investment Charter that Morocco has promulgated, adapted to the institutional, economic, social and political transformations, and aimed at making the Kingdom an international destination for investment, offering real opportunities in strategic sectors," said the Statement.

Morocco and Spain note with appreciation the remarkable evolution of their economic partnership, which has breathed new life into trade, added the same source, indicating that it is agreed to renew the existing Financial Protocol by doubling the resources available to reach 800 million euros.

Reimbursable and non-reimbursable financial instruments will be used to support projects of priority interest to be developed by the Government of Morocco, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, water and sanitation, education and health facilities and productive sectors.

The two countries also stressed the importance of cooperation in projects to decarbonize the economy, which offer great potential for investors.

They also agreed on the need to further develop connectivity and facilitate mobility between the two countries, welcoming their excellent collaboration in the field of water and reaffirming their interest in further strengthening it, especially in desalination, integrated water resources management and wastewater reuse.

Recognizing the need to respond to the current climate emergency and the disastrous impacts of the summer of 2022, both countries reiterate their commitment to the Paris Agreement. They recognize the importance of fostering collaboration on climate change adaptation solutions and promoting effective prevention, anticipation and adaptation measures to increase drought resilience.

They will build on spaces already created with the International Drought Resilience Alliance to accelerate a more coordinated and collaborative global response and the World Meteorological Organization's SOFF initiative to develop early warning systems.

Spain and Morocco are committed to deepening cooperation in the field of civil protection, which holds great potential for the implementation of joint actions, especially in risk prevention, human resources training and the exchange of knowledge and experience.

In addition, taking into account the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, both countries are committed to implementing modern border control management. They reiterate their commitment to continue to move forward in an orderly manner towards full standardization of the movement of people and goods, including appropriate customs and people control arrangements at land and sea.

Taking into account the conclusions of the pilot test of January 27, the two parties will continue this series of tests on the agreed schedule to overcome any constraints.

Also, they have committed to continue to progress in the exchange of experiences and best practices in road safety policies and to organize an annual meeting on road safety, alternating in each country.

Morocco and Spain agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture by formalizing technical collaboration in different areas, including exchange of education, vocational training and agricultural advice, promotion of agricultural investment, sharing of experiences in sanitary and phytosanitary safety, research in water saving, expansion of decentralized cooperation, development of triangular Moroccan-Spanish cooperation in favor of African countries, among others.

Similarly, both countries recognized the need to continue to promote bi- and multilateral initiatives in science and innovation.

They also recorded with satisfaction the signing of an MoU in tourism, took note of the positive assessment of tourism cooperation as part of the follow-up to the implementation of the recommendations of the Morocco-Spain High Level Meeting, and agreed to capitalize on the achievements and continue this development dynamic.

In addition, both parties agree to continue development cooperation by renewing the sectors and diversifying the instruments of Spanish cooperation, within the framework of the New Development Model of Morocco.

In this sense, the two countries place their cooperation within the framework of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, Cooperation and Enhanced Political Dialogue, resulting from the Joint Statement of April 7, 2022, based on the principles of transparency, permanent dialogue, mutual respect and implementation of commitments and agreements signed by both parties, in which issues of common interest are addressed in a spirit of trust, far from unilateral actions or faits accomplis.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the 12th session of the Moroccan-Spanish High Level Meeting, held under the joint chairmanship of the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, the two parties emphasize that this meeting was an opportunity to review the objectives of the roadmap and the satisfactory results achieved, on the one hand, and to renew the determination of both countries to act, jointly, for the continuation of this new dynamic on the other hand, which is necessary for the welfare of both countries and the prosperity of the entire region.

The two parties, in this regard, welcomed the work done in all working groups, all met and functional, and especially the efforts made and the involvement shown, on both sides, to achieve the objectives set in the said roadmap, inviting the continuation of discussions in the framework of these groups.

Both governments welcome the work of the Committee in charge of the implementation of the Joint Statement of April 7, 2022, established in point 16 of the said Statement and chaired by the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and encourage its continuation.

According to the Joint Statement, both countries welcome the signing of Declarations and Memoranda of Understanding on the occasion of this High Level Meeting.

Morocco and Spain also reiterate their commitment to the protection and guarantee of human rights as an essential basis for democratic coexistence, the rule of law and good governance, and agree to strengthen their cooperation in this area in the new phase of bilateral relations.

Speaking at a joint press briefing at the end of the 12th session of the Moroccan-Spanish High Level Meeting which they co-chaired, Akhannouch and Sanchez stressed that the agreements reached, covering several areas, reflect this renewed momentum, initiated last April following the visit of the president of the Spanish government to Morocco at the invitation of HM King Mohammed VI.

In this regard, Akhannouch said that this high-level meeting reflects the historical relations and ties of friendship, as well as the bilateral strategic partnership, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and HM King Felipe VI.

He expressed his great satisfaction with the renewed momentum of bilateral relations and the strong commitment of the two kingdoms to raise them to higher levels, welcoming the importance of the Spanish delegation that took part in this session.

The theme chosen for this session, namely "a privileged partnership, resolutely oriented towards the future", illustrates the common will to devote a permanent transparent dialogue, based on trust and mutual esteem in the treatment of all issues of common interest, he said.

He also expressed his satisfaction with Spain's position on the first national cause, which supports the autonomy plan in the Moroccan Sahara, presented by the Kingdom in 2007 and considers it to be the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the settlement of this artificial conflict, stressing furthermore the determination of both countries to strengthen their strategic partnership.

He concluded that the telephone conversation between the Sovereign and the president of the Spanish government opens wide prospects for relations between the two kingdoms.

For his part, Sanchez noted that this exceptional session marks an important step for both countries and lays the foundation for a long-term relationship.

This session, the first in eight years, was crowned by the signing of an unprecedented number of agreements, in addition to the consolidation of a new advanced economic partnership, he said.

Expressing the interest of Spain to invest in strategic sectors such as agribusiness, tourism and railroads in Morocco, he welcomed the strengthening of cooperation in the fields of culture, education, vocational training and higher education.

The two parties examined, during this meeting, the means for an optimal implementation of bilateral partnership agreements, particularly through the development of joint action plans in the field of water.

The talks were also an opportunity to affirm the commitment of the two kingdoms to strengthen their consultations in preparation of international water agendas, in order to meet the new challenges related to adaptation to climate change.

In a statement to the press, Baraka said that this meeting is an opportunity to exchange on strategic projects, including the fixed link between the two countries via the Strait of Gibraltar and ways to improve the management and maintenance of roads and consolidate cooperation between Moroccan and Spanish ports.

Emphasis was placed, in this context, on the need to enter into a logic of green port by taking into account climate change, and to take into consideration the expectations of economic actors in terms of strengthening the link between Morocco and Spain and thus the junction between Africa and Europe.

For her part, the Spanish minister expressed, in a similar statement, "great satisfaction" of the talks she had with her Moroccan counterpart, stressing that this meeting of "great importance" was an opportunity to raise several issues of common interest.

"We are committed to setting in the coming days the date of the meeting of the Joint Commission to discuss the next steps to be taken on the project of fixed link between Spain and Morocco via the Strait of Gibraltar," said Sanchez Jiménez.

The Spanish minister welcomed the progress made in bilateral cooperation, noting that both parties are committed to working together for green ports, vectors of clean energy.

In the same context, Baraka held talks with the 3rd vice president of the Government and Minister of Energy Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera Rodriguez, focusing in particular on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of water management in view of the challenges related to climate change.

The Statement stressed that the communities of nationals residing respectively in both countries contribute to societies' mutual understanding.

Given the vital role of education, culture and sports in bringing nations closer together, Spain and Morocco agree to place their exchanges in these areas at the center of their cooperation relations.

In the field of education, the parties undertake to promote the exchange of documentation relating to school curricula in force, in order to facilitate the accreditation and recognition of education and diplomas issued to students, added the joint Statement, noting that both parties will strengthen their collaboration to promote student mobility.

In this sense, the Spanish side will study measures to simplify administrative procedures for Moroccan students in Spain, while both sides will take the necessary steps to encourage Spanish public and private universities to open branches in Morocco, whose university offer is now strongly oriented towards internationalization, and whose universities host more than 20,000 African students receiving more than 11,000 scholarships.

In this regard, both parties welcome the signing of the MoU on university cooperation and also the ongoing discussions to facilitate mutual access of new university students from each of the signatory parties.

They also undertake to promote their cooperation in the field of sports, and particularly in the areas of community sports, integration through sports, and high performance sports.

In addition, both parties commend their excellent collaboration in the implementation of the Program of Teaching Arabic Language and Moroccan Culture in Spain and undertake to strengthen it by providing the necessary human and material resources.

In this sense, added the joint Statement, both parties agree on the need to adopt an Agreement exclusively on this program, which will serve as a basis for its improvement and ensure its sustainability.

Satisfied with the exchanges which took place since the last High-Level Meeting in the field of cultural cooperation, the two parties called for holding the 7th session of the Joint Cultural and Educational Commission, established under the Cultural Agreement between the governments of the two countries, signed in Rabat on October 14, 1980 and which has not met since 2003.

The two countries, which note, moreover, the dynamism of the Spanish language in Morocco, are committed to strengthening the learning of this language in Moroccan schools, junior and high schools, and call for the development of a joint action plan to actively support the establishment of bilingual sections within the Moroccan education system in all its primary, secondary and higher levels, pursuant to the MoU signed for this purpose, as well as a training program in Spanish as a language of instruction, in favor of Moroccan teachers.

The two parties also agreed to increase cooperation in the areas of media and institutional communication, including the development of a memorandum of understanding.

They also agreed to begin updating the film co-production agreement signed in 1998, and to develop an audiovisual co-production agreement that would reflect the expectations of both parties.

Both parties also express their interest in cooperating to ensure the protection of copyright and related rights in all areas by putting in contact their respective competent bodies and exchanging experiences and information, especially on the impact of new technologies, said the joint Statement, adding that the Moroccan side expressed interest in concluding a reciprocal representation agreement between the Moroccan Copyright Office and its Spanish counterpart.

The two countries also welcomed the organization by the Kingdom of Morocco, in November 2022 in Fez, of the 9th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which was a strong moment to highlight the universality of its values.

In the Joint Statement issued at the end of the 12th session of the Morocco-Spain High Level Meeting, held under the joint chairmanship of the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, the two countries emphasized their particular commitment to the fight against international terrorism, which is crucial for the security and stability of the Euro-Mediterranean region and on the global level.

In this sense, Spain and Morocco, which welcomed the results achieved in the fight against terrorism, expressed their deepest condemnation of terrorist acts, whether inside or outside their territories, as well as any form of violence that threatens the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Both parties also renewed their commitment to peace and stability, sustainable development and human rights, particularly within the framework of the United Nations.

In the statement of April 7, Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute over the Sahara.

Mardid also recognizes in the April 2022 Statement, "the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco as well as Morocco's serious and credible efforts within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution."

In a joint statement issued at the end of the 12th Moroccan-Spanish High Level Meeting, held under the joint chairmanship of the Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, the two countries agree to intensify their cooperation in the fight against irregular migration, border control, the fight against networks and the readmission of illegal immigrants.

Stressing that the fight against criminal networks of illegal immigration should also recall the responsibility of neighboring countries, countries of origin and the EU in the face of this phenomenon, the two countries recognize the many positive contributions that immigrant communities make to both host countries and their countries of origin. In this sense, they are fully committed to combating all forms of racism, xenophobia and any other discrimination against immigrant populations.

The two governments, which note the importance of the efforts made in the field of migration, particularly in the framework of the Marrakech Pact and the Rabat Process, reiterate their common commitment to dynamic mobility allowing for the fluid and orderly movement of persons.

The two parties also welcome the spirit of understanding and cooperation that permeated their participation in the Ministerial Conference of the Rabat Process, held in Cadiz on December 13 and 14, 2022, which was marked by the coordination in the handover of the consecutive presidencies between the two countries, as agreed in the Joint Statement of April 7, 2022

They also express their satisfaction with their collaboration and coordination in the transit operation "Crossing the Straits Operation /Marhaba" after the pandemic in 2022, the Statement stressed, pointing out that this joint operation has facilitated the movement of nearly 3 million passengers and 700,000 vehicles, making it one of the largest programs for managing the movement of people in the world.

Both parties also renewed their commitment to peace and stability, sustainable development, and human rights, including within the framework of the United Nations.