Beijing – Morocco is ready to play a leading role in promoting triangular cooperation with China and Africa in several key sectors, says HM the King’s Ambassador in China, Abdelkader El Ansari.
In an interview with a Chinese national channel, El Ansari stressed that ‘Morocco, with its strong historical ties with African countries, aspires to work alongside China for the benefit of the continent.’
He emphasized the Kingdom’s readiness to play a leading role in strengthening triangular cooperation with China and Africa in areas such as training, health, water resource management and governance.
Morocco and China have a wealth of internationally-recognized experience that can benefit partner African countries, he added.
Africa, as is the case with China, has always been a priority of Morocco’s foreign policy, he added, recalling, in this context, that the Kingdom has been an active player within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) since its inception in 2000, ensuring high-level participation in al
l its meetings and being at the origin of several initiatives aimed at achieving its goals.
The Moroccan diplomat also stated that Morocco’s vision in terms of cooperation with the continent largely converges with China’s initiatives and orientations, while emphasizing the interest of African countries in benefiting from Chinese experience and investment.
Regarding Sino-Moroccan bilateral relations, El Ansari recalled the two major decisions taken by HMKing Mohammed VI during the Sovereign’s historic visit to Beijing in 2016, relating to visa exemption for Chinese citizens and the creation of the Mohamed VI Tangier Tech City, which hosts dozens of major Chinese companies operating in various fields.
He also referred to the excellent political relations between the two countries, noting that numerous bilateral agreements had been concluded over the past 40 years, creating a legal framework favorable to trade and investment.
On this occasion, he highlighted the considerable potential for Chinese companies t
o set up business in Morocco, within the framework of win-win partnerships, stressing that the Kingdom constitutes a real bridge to consumer markets thanks to the numerous free trade agreements concluded with several countries and regions.
Morocco enjoys an attractive business environment that is favorable to foreign investment, with high-quality human resources, he maintained, citing the large-scale projects undertaken by the Kingdom over the past two decades, notably in infrastructure, ports, high-speed rail, renewable energies and the automotive industry.
He added that ‘Morocco, which entered the automotive industry over 20 years ago, is now able to produce almost a million vehicles a year,’ adding that the country is now turning its attention to electric vehicles, a promising sector for cooperation with China.
Official diplomatic relations between the two nations date back to 1958, ‘Morocco being the second African country to have established official diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of
China,’ he noted.
The diplomat added that these relations took a decisive turn with the visit of HM King Mohammed VI to China in 2016, which led to the establishment of a strategic partnership focused on political consultation, economic cooperation in sectors such as the automotive industry, renewable energies, agriculture and infrastructure, as well as cultural and human relations.
In this context, he stated that Morocco and China have always upheld the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, while advocating a multilateral international order based on peace, security and balanced economic development.
He also expressed Morocco’s expectations of welcoming large numbers of Chinese tourists, thanks to the visa exemption introduced in 2016 and the resumption of direct flights between Casablanca and Beijing scheduled for January 2025.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse
