Stephen Spector
November 20, 2014 Dates and Milk Welcome Vice President and Dr. Biden to Morocco
Welcome to your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s three-country, five-day visit to Morocco, Ukraine, and Turkey.
The first stop on the Vice President and Dr. Biden’s three-country trip was Morocco. The Vice President and Dr. Biden’s visit started on a sweet note, as they were greeted at the airport with dates and milk, a traditional Moroccan welcome. November 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
Morocco has a special place in the history and hearts of Americans because it was the first nation in the world to recognize the United States nearly 237 years ago. The Vice President’s visit, the first by a sitting U.S. Vice President in decades, marked the latest chapter in a long and storied friendship.
After arriving, the Vice President met with His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The two reaffirmed our countries’ alliance and enduring friendship. The Vice President and King discussed a range of issues, including:
– Achieving a secure, stable, and prosperous Magreb, Africa, and Middle East.
– The two countries’ efforts together as part of the international coalition against ISIL
– Non-military aspects to combat violent extremism.
– Morocco’s important role as a gateway for trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
November 19, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
On Thursday, the Vice President addressed the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, an annual gathering of entrepreneurs and business, government, and thought leaders.
In his remarks, the Vice President announced that the U.S. government has committed to a bold new goal to expand economic opportunity by sparking $1 billion in new private investments for entrepreneurs worldwide. In fact, half of these investments will be generated by women and young entrepreneurs.
“When I travel the region and the entire world, I see young people with limitless promise to make not only their countries but the whole world better…That is the reality. That’s the world we live in,” Vice President Biden said.
November 20, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
Next stop on the trip: Kyiv, Ukraine. Stay tuned for more updates from the road.
November 18. 2014:
Tomorrow, the Vice President will be in Morocco, where he’ll meet with King Mohammed VI in Fez to discuss a number of issues. And on Thursday, the Vice President will deliver remarks to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Marrakesh. This is the fifth Global Entrepreneurship Summit since President Obama first announced the program in a speech at Cairo University in 2009.
The summit is a way to bring together world leaders to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world. It’s also the Vice President’s second summit address. His first one was in Istanbul in 2011, where he told young entrepreneurs they “have a chance like no other generation of entrepreneurs to direct the world, to steer it, to bend the curve in the direction of progress, openness, humanity.”
After his speech on Thursday, the Vice President will then meet with young leaders from around the world to discuss the importance of youth entrepreneurship.
Stay tuned for updates, photos, and videos from the road. For now, check out the schedule of the trip:
Wednesday, November 19th
The Vice President will meet with King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Thursday, November 20th
In the morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a roundtable discussion with youth entrepreneurs.
In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Marrakech en route Kyiv, Ukraine.
Friday, November 21st
In the morning, the Vice President will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the Cabinet of Ministers Club. In the afternoon, the Vice President will attend a working lunch with President Poroshenko at the House of Chimeras. Following their lunch, the Vice President and President Poroshenko will deliver a joint statement to the press at the Presidential Administration Building.
Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a roundtable discussion on anti-corruption efforts. In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Kyiv en route Istanbul, Turkey.
Later in the evening, the Vice President will attend a working dinner with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Saturday, November 22nd
In the morning, the Vice President will deliver remarks and participate in a moderated discussion with the Atlantic Council Energy Conference.
Afterwards, the Vice President will attend a meeting of the National Democratic Institute “Checks and Balances Networ.”
Later, the Vice President will attend a working lunch with President Erdogan at the Beylerbeyi Palace.
Sunday, November 23rd
In the morning, the Vice President will meet with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Istanbul en route Washington, DC.
Stephen Spector is the Assistant Press Secretary to the Vice President.
Related Topics: Foreign Policy
