Morocco and China are marking the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year. They have had diplomatic ties since November 1958, and their relationship has progressed steadily and fairly ever since.

We have seen the beginning of a notable process of cooperation in the political, economic, commercial, and cultural spheres during this time, accumulating fruitful results in many areas, we have also seen the enduring friendship between two peoples who are the descendants of ancient civilisations that are deeply rooted in the history of humanity.

Stable foundation

The political communication between Morocco and China has always been characterised by transparency and mutual trust that has been built between the two nations, despite the fact that both countries have chosen distinct political systems and development patterns. As a result, their bilateral ties serve as an example for South-South cooperation. It is evident from the discussions between the presidents and officials that both nations have consistently upheld the idea of fostering bilateral cooperation for the purpose of gaining economic independence. They also uphold the core tenets of respect for one another, adherence to national territorial integrity, and non-interference in domestic matters.

We were all made aware that a new era of collaboration had begun following King Mohammed VI’s visit to China in May 2016 and the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with President Xi Jinping. With this collaboration, a common Sino-African and Sino-Arab future is centred on investment, knowledge transfer, and cultural interactions. Morocco is a key player and cornerstone in this cooperation, helping to build a long-lasting and mutually beneficial connection.

Morocco and China have updated their business cooperation to adapt to the current environment of global growth. The current Morocco-China economic and commercial cooperation is based on a comprehensive structure. This mechanism comprises new agreements covering investment protection, justice, environment and tourism, in addition to the signing of economic and commercial agreements.

The economic and commercial relationships between China and Morocco have improved in recent years, and their practical collaboration has produced impressive achievements. China has surpassed the US as Morocco’s third-largest economic partner as bilateral commerce has exhibited a favourable development trend. The following developments are significant for comprehending the expanding trend of bilateral relations:

??Morocco signed a cooperation agreement for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on 5 January 2022, making it the first nation in North Africa t99990o do so. The plan intends to advance bilateral cooperation in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, commerce, investment, industry, agriculture, and many others, and to better coordinate the two nations’ development plans.

??Morocco and China signed a memorandum of understanding on the formation of a working group on barrier-free trade on 30 November 2022. This action reflects the ongoing development and improvement of their economic and commercial cooperation as well as their resolve and commitment to successfully advance it.

??Tang Renjian, minister of agriculture and rural affair of China, visited Morocco from 2 to 4 July this year and signed a document on agricultural cooperation, increasing agricultural exchanges to provide real advantages for both peoples.

Successful cooperation

Due to the efforts of both nations, ideal conditions have been established for the growth of close collaboration. Likewise, as a result of the strong political foundations of collaboration between Morocco and China, commercial cooperation has inevitably grown and opened up new prospects in a variety of sectors.

Political collaboration between Morocco and China has led to a surge of Chinese businesses investing in Morocco in the areas of investment, economics, and commerce. One of these is the CITIC Dicastal initiative to manufacture auto components, which has emerged as a role model for Chinese businesses looking to set up shop in Morocco. The prospects of the Moroccan automobile sector were also highlighted by CITIC Dicastal to other Chinese manufacturing firms, particularly those who were aiming for the European and African markets.

We have successfully carried out large-scale projects like seawater desalination, oasis desert agriculture, and mining exploration, among other strategic areas for Morocco, in the context of promoting investment opportunities led by our association, the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development (ACCAD), thanks to intensive local market research and collaboration with a variety of local economic actors.

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Considering our seawater desalination project as an illustration, unprecedented drought conditions have recently affected the daily lives of the local people as well as those of Morocco and its neighbouring nations in North Africa and the Sahel. In order to do this, a joint venture between a Moroccan firm and a Chinese company in Suzhou City in Jiangsu Province that specialises in seawater desalination was formed in response to the incentives of our organisation. The main goal was to propose a novel strategy that, in terms of manufacturing costs and implementation time, satisfies local requirements. Customers’ trust in this alliance, which was swiftly acquired through creative solutions created in China and tailored to regional needs, has grown in Morocco.

Today, we receive several requests from nearby nations to help them to protect their water sovereignty. This, in my opinion, exemplifies Morocco’s dedication to serving as a strategic link between Africa, Arab nations, and Europe within the context of the BRI.

Future collaboration between China and Morocco is full of potential within the BRI. In addition to its apparent competitive advantages, China also possesses advanced technology, state-of-the-art machinery, and high-calibre skills and specialists in numerous industrial sectors. However, Morocco benefits from its special geographic features, an abundance of natural resources, and a well-diversified and multifaceted human resource structure. Thanks to the free trade agreements the government has signed, the country acts as a bridge and launching pad for Chinese businesses and investors seeking to extensively enter and integrate into the African, Arab, European and even American markets.

Future prospects for the growth of economic cooperation between Morocco and China are quite promising. In order to achieve this complementarity and achieve more robust and long-lasting collaboration, tireless efforts are needed at all levels.

The author is President of Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development.