Kathmandu, August 3 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco today signed a memorandum of understanding for formation of a bilateral consultation mechanism. The MoU was signed by Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi and Mohamed Maliki, ambassador of Morocco to Nepal, on behalf of the governments of Nepal and Morocco, respectively, at a ceremony held at the foreign ministry. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara witnessed the ceremony. Speaking at the programme, Secretary Bairagi highlighted the importance of the consultation mechanism in exploring ways and means for further expanding and consolidating bilateral relations and cooperation. He also said consultations between the two countries on matters of mutual interest would help enhance bilateral engagement in various fields. Ambassador Maliki expressed satisfaction with the state of bilateral relations ever since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1975. He expressed hope that the MoU would be useful in enhancing future cooperation between the two countries. The proposed bilateral consultation mechanism would meet annually in Nepal and Morocco alternatively to facilitate exchange of visits and conduct consultations between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest. Senior officials from the MoFA, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco based in New Delhi and Morocco’s Honorary Consul General Basant Kumar Chaudhary were also present during the ceremony, said a press release issued by the MoFA.