PARIS — French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met Friday in Rabat with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita. Both ministers said that the encounter was productive, reflecting the deep and long ties between the two countries in various domains.

Colonna arrived to the country Thursday night for a series of meetings to prepare an visit by the French president in mid-January.

Colonna traveled to Rabat the day after the historic semifinal soccer game in Doha between the French and the Moroccan national teams, with the Blues defeating the Lions of the Atlas 2-0. Many French fans of Moroccan origin celebrated in the streets of Paris after the game. They have dreamed of victory for the Lions and were disappointed by the defeat, but proud that the Moroccan team got as far as it did.

French President Emmanuel Macron had traveled to Doha for the game. Shortly after it, he congratulated the Moroccan players on their great performance at the Doha World Cup, tweeting, "To our Moroccan friends: Congratulations on this beautiful journey. You are making football history."