Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday declared that Spain looks forward to cementing its bonds with the African continent and establishing a partnership based on dialogue and mutual respect and interests. The prime minister spoke as he presented Spain’s new Africa strategy, themed “Spain-Africa 2025-2028: we act together as part of a strategic relationship,” at a broad ceremony held at the presidential palace, attended by the Mauritanian president, chair of the African Union Commission, and Head of the Commission of the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS).
According to Kuwait News Agency, Spain’s new strategy aims to bolster the relations between Africa and Spain “in a very complex world,” Sanchez said, affirming that the African continent is currently witnessing economic-political-social transformation, “pushing it to play a greater role in the international community.” Spain desires to usher in a new phase of the relations with Africa; based on equality, mutual respect
, and joint benefits, the prime minister declared.
Sanchez said that Madrid’s new strategy features five key goals: bolstering relations that facilitate joint work, attaining sustainable development with emphasis on the youth role, linking up the African and Spanish communities, and establishing solid state institutions. He pledged that Spain would boost cooperation among universities and research centers, increase educational scholarships for African youth, and enhance cooperation in the fields of security, basic rights, health, education, and nutrition.
Spain will continue support for states and regional organizations to preserve peace and security, combat terrorism, extremism, organized crimes, and human trafficking, as well as coping with climatic and environmental challenges.