French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte Macron, arrived on Monday late afternoon in Rabat, for a three-day State visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Moroccan King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, and Prince Moulay Rachid, with Princesses Lalla Khadija and Lalla Meryem received Mr Macron and his delegation at the Rabat-Salé Airport at about 1520 hours.
The French President’s three-day visit, the second since 2018, is at the invitation of the King.
King Mohammed VI, in July, invited Mr Macron after Paris announced a position in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
The French President received a royal welcome with a 21-gun salute by a detachment of the Royal Guard after touching down.
Moments after, Mr Macron and Madam Brigitte Macron were invited to the traditional ceremony of milk and date offering.
As the colourful procession headed for the Royal Palace in Rabat, thousands of residents of Salé and Rabat lined the route taken by the official procession to observe the royal spectacle and cheer the two Heads of State.
The main streets of the Royal Procession were decorated with Moroccan and French flags.
Some of the residents could not hide their excitement as Mr Macron and King Mohammed VI paused the procession to greet the crowds, some of who took the chance to take pictures and videos of the rare opportunity.
Arriving at the “Bab Assoufara” gate, the procession was escorted by the fanfare and cavalry of the Royal Guard to the Mechouar Square at the Royal Palace.
The Royal Guard, which escorts the King’s procession when the Sovereign welcomes distinguished guests, made this official and popular ceremony reserved for the French President in the Kingdom’s capital.
The special honour was done to commensurate with the deep ties between Morocco and France.
At the Mechouar Square, Mr Macron was greeted by the Head of Government, the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, the King’s Advisors, the Deputy President of the High Council of the Judiciary.
Also present were the First President of the Court of Cassation, the King’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, the President of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, among other dignitaries.
While in Morocco, the French President is expected to sign some bilateral agreements with Morocco in the sectors of renewable energies, new technologies, education, and culture.
Mr Macron is also expected to address the Moroccan Parliament on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 and proceed with other official activities before his departure on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
GNA