Moroccan Foreign Ministry organized the Africa Day Celebration here on Thursday under the theme "Morocco as an actor for collective emergence in Africa."

At the opening of the first edition in Morocco as a member of the African Union (AU), Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said 2017 has been an "exceptional" year in the relationships between Morocco and African countries.

In February, Morocco rejoined the AU after 33 years of absence.

Morocco's return to AU has crowned its strong commitment to Africa's peace, stability and prosperity, Bourita said.

He noted that two thirds of Morocco's foreign investments are directed toward Africa, making the kingdom the largest African investor in West Africa and the second in the continent.

According to the minister, more than a thousand Moroccan companies are operating in Africa and invested 2.2 billion U.S. dollars between 2008 and 2015.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani and ambassadors of foreign countries also attended the celebration.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2017)