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RABAT, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Morocco said on Wednesday that it is determined to further strengthen partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The remarks were made by Mounia Boucetta, Moroccan Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, at a ceremony marking the 51st anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN at the Indonesian embassy in the capital Rabat.

Boucetta said Morocco is seeking to diversify and cement its partnerships with ASEAN countries.

She also likened the strategic role of ASEAN in the Southeast region to Morocco's in Africa, saying the bilateral partnership is likely to serve as another level of South-South Cooperation.

Morocco formally joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of ASEAN in 2016, the first African and Arab country to join the treaty.

Morocco also applied to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 2016, the foreign minister noted.

In recent years, Morocco has adopted various initiatives to expand its opening up to the outside world, as part of its new strategic vision to diversify its partnerships beyond Europe, the U.S. and the Arab world.