Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita and Wang Yi Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: On Wednesday, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss ways to strengthen the ties between Morocco and China. This meeting is part of a continuing positive momentum following the strategic partnership declaration signed by King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping during the monarch’s royal visit to Beijing in May 2016.

During their discussions, both ministers reaffirmed their mutual and reciprocal support on fundamental issues of shared interest. They praised the depth of the friendship and cooperation between their countries and expressed enthusiasm for initiatives aimed at enhancing political, economic, and cultural ties.

The talks also focused on opportunities for economic and trade exchanges, particularly in Morocco’s burgeoning industries. The meeting comes at a time when Chinese companies are increasingly investing in the North African country, attracted by its thriving energy and mobility sectors.

In recent years, Chinese investments in Morocco have been on the rise, notably in electric mobility, automotive, renewable energies, and infrastructure. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 report, Morocco has become a key African destination for Chinese investments for the next decade. In January 2024, Morocco welcomed over $700 million in investments from Chinese companies in manufacturing cathodes for lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, as reported by Benchmark Minerals Intelligence.

A prominent symbol of Moroccan-Chinese cooperation is the Mohammed VI Tanger Tech City, launched during King Mohammed VI’s 2016 visit to China. This ambitious project aims to become a major hub for advanced technologies and new-generation industrial projects, serving as a platform for joint technological innovation between the two countries.

The ministers also discussed the resurgence of Chinese tourists to Morocco, facilitated by the Moroccan monarch’s decision to lift visa requirements for Chinese citizens in June 2016. Furthermore, the meeting provided an opportunity to address mutual efforts to enhance regional security. Minister Bourita highlighted recent initiatives announced by King Mohammed VI to promote stability, security, and economic prosperity in the region.

Key to these efforts are the strategic Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project and the Atlantic Initiative, which aim to streamline multidimensional African cooperation and promote the integration of value chains. The Atlantic Initiative, in particular, focuses on facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel states and supporting cooperation among African countries on the Atlantic coast.

Wang Yi commended King Mohammed VI’s leadership in fostering Morocco’s stability and socio-economic development. He also acknowledged Morocco’s contributions to regional and international peace and security. The ministers noted the progress made under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), following the 2017 memorandum of understanding and the 2022 implementation plan for joint BRI construction.

Additionally, Bourita and Yi discussed several other regional and international issues of common interest. Morocco and China have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1958, with ties steadily evolving and expanding over the years. China is Morocco’s third-largest trade partner, with a total trade volume of MAD 39.5 billion ($3.97 billion) in 2016, reflecting an average annual increase of 18.2% since 2001, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade.