RABAT, Morocco, Oct 29,  (AP): Morocco's King Mohammed VI welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco on Monday, kicking off a state visit with a series of bilateral agreements, including major investments in renewable energy and transportation. Macron's trip to Morocco - his first in six years - comes as immigrants, including North Africans, face continued scrutiny in France and while France reassesses its role in its former colonies throughout Africa.

Morocco has historically been a key economic and security partner, however relations between the two countries have often been fragile. Among the objectives of Macron's visit, the Elysee Palace said, is "to rebuild the exceptional partnership that links our two countries.” French and Moroccan flags on Monday flew throughout the capital, where crowds lined the streets to watch the motorcade containing Macron, his wife and members of Morocco's royal family drive to one of their palaces.

Macron and Mohammed VI, who used a cane to walk, later oversaw a ceremonial signing of 22 agreements to facilitate future investments as well as cultural and scientific partnerships. The investments are worth a total of 10 billion euros and include expanding Morocco's high speed rail line southward to Marrakech, which the country hopes to complete before it holds events for the FIFA World Cup in 2030.

They also included projects to develop green hydrogen, wind farms and water projects, which Morocco has identified to help insulate the country from the effects of climate change. In the days leading up to the visit, Moroccan publications lauded the "warm reunion” and a "new honeymoon” between the two countries. Diplomatic relations have warmed Macron changed France’s longstanding public position and backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara.