Moroccan FM Bourita to Visit China Amid Growing Bilateral Ties and UN Sahara Discussions
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita is set to visit China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, according to media sources. The visit comes as Morocco and China continue to deepen their partnership, particularly in economic cooperation.
Bilateral ties have expanded steadily over the past two decades. A convention signed in 2002 to avoid double taxation facilitated cross-border trade and investment, while a 2016 strategic agreement, concluded during King Mohammed VI’s state visit to Beijing, marked a turning point in relations.
Bourita’s trip also carries special diplomatic weight as the UN prepares for a new session of the Security Council on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). China, as a permanent member of the Council, holds an influential role in shaping the deliberations.
The UN Secretary-General is expected to present a report to Council members by October, assessing developments since Resolution 2756, which extended MINURSO’s mandate for one year. Both mission chief Alexander Ivanko and the Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura, will brief the Council in closed consultations, ahead of a likely vote on a new resolution.
Analysts note that Morocco views China’s position at the Security Council as crucial for its diplomatic strategy on the Western Sahara issue, making Bourita’s visit especially timely.
