Morocco and China, a strategic partnership with great commercial benefits
- Chinese ambassador stresses strategic importance of relations with Morocco
- Morocco in China's Belt and Road Initiative
- Rabat strengthens diplomatic ties with Beijing by backing one-China policy
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958, Morocco and China have maintained a strong partnership in various fields. In recent decades, bilateral relations have developed steadily in various fields, especially in trade and economics.
During the last visit to Morocco of the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, the two countries agreed to strengthen trade ties. During this meeting with the Moroccan Minister of Trade, Ryad Mezzour, the strategic importance that both countries attach to their bilateral cooperation was highlighted, with the aim of consolidating and promoting economic ties between Morocco and China.
This cooperation includes numerous projects related to industry and infrastructure. Trade is also of great importance, as it has increased by more than 50 per cent, making China the Kingdom's third largest trading partner and the first in Asia, with a total trade volume of 7.6 billion dollars in 2022.
On the other hand, Chinese investments in Morocco exceeded 56 million dollars in 2022, mainly concentrated in industry, major works, transport, real estate, energy and mining. This economic dynamism reflects the growing interest of Chinese companies in the Kingdom.
From Rabat, they have called for future joint actions to be innovative, coordinated, efficient and impactful, in order to deliver results in line with the strategic objectives agreed in the 2016 bilateral partnership.
Mezzour also highlighted important opportunities for synergies between the two economies, highlighting the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area as a means to develop Moroccan and Chinese exports to new and promising African markets.
For his part, Wang emphasised the development advantages of Morocco and China, revealing in this regard that the Kingdom has become a preferred destination for Chinese companies.
"The country's geographical position, its relatively good physical infrastructure and the competitive positioning of some of its existing industrial sectors make Morocco an attractive location for Chinese investors," explains analyst Anouar Boukhars, quoted by the Wilson Center. "Its generous tax incentives, booming free trade zones and numerous free trade agreements are also attractive selling points for Chinese manufacturers looking to move their production abroad," he adds.
For this reason, the Chinese minister expressed his confidence that these companies can bring significant added value to Morocco's economic development by complying with local regulations and taking advantage of its technological advantages.
Wang reiterated his commitment to promoting cooperation between the two nations, emphasising the mutual opportunities for economic and trade development and highlighting the key role played by the Kingdom in boosting the growth of Chinese companies.
Chinese ambassador stresses strategic importance of relations with Morocco
Minister Wang was not the only high-ranking Chinese official to praise the strong ties between the two nations. Li Changlin, China's ambassador to the Kingdom, also stressed the "strategic importance" of cooperative relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of economy, culture, education and technology, during a round table discussion in Casablanca.
During the conference "Sino-Moroccan relations in the new era", the Chinese diplomat highlighted a significant increase in trade between the two countries in recent years, reaching a volume of over 7 billion dollars. This growth has positioned China as a strategic trade partner for Morocco.
Regarding the numerous Chinese investments in Morocco, the ambassador encouraged Chinese companies to expand them in Morocco's priority development sectors, particularly renewable energy and the automotive industry.
He also highlighted the potential for cooperation in the cultural and educational fields, stressing the importance of a shared vision, mutual exchange and pragmatic collaboration in building a solid and lasting partnership between the two countries.
Morocco in China's Belt and Road Initiative
In 2017, Morocco and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative, which was a key impetus for the two countries to further promote bilateral cooperation under this project.
The Kingdom thus became the first North African nation to commit to the initiative's implementation plan. "As China continues to extend its reach further westward, Morocco will become an increasingly important strategic gateway to the Mediterranean," says Bryce F. Neary of the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA).
There have been major achievements in recent years under this initiative, especially in relation to Chinese investment projects. These successes include the establishment of Citic Dicastal in Kenitra, a company specialising in the manufacture of aluminium wheels, one of the most important Chinese investment projects in Morocco to date, the Chinese ambassador to Morocco, Sem Li Changlin, told Maroc Diplomatique.
The ambassador also mentions the Mohammed VI Tanger Tech City, a flagship project backed by the highest authorities of the two countries, and the Chinese company Sentury Tire, specialised in the manufacture of tyres, which recently signed a contract with the Moroccan side to acquire 20 hectares of land in Tanger Tech, with an investment of 300 million dollars.
Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, other large Chinese groups such as Gotion High-Tech, BTR Shenzhen and Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology have also announced their intention to set up in Morocco.
Another Chinese company playing an important role in Morocco, especially in the field of the digital revolution, is the Chinese technology giant Huawei. The company has already established a logistics centre in the port of Tangier Med, providing communication technology for the national railway system (ONCF). It is also linked to telecommunications systems throughout the country.
The initiative, launched by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
Rabat strengthens diplomatic ties with Beijing by backing one-China policy
In order to reinforce strong economic and trade cooperation, Morocco and China are also making progress in political and diplomatic matters.
In this regard, Morocco supports the "One China" policy as a constant basis for bilateral ties between Rabat and Beijing.
The One China policy refers to a diplomatic distinction established in 1979 between the United States and China, which recognises the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole government of China without considering Taiwan as a sovereign entity, but part of China.
The United States instituted this official distinction in an effort to preserve stability in the Taiwan Strait while maintaining separate diplomatic relations between Taiwan and China.
"The Kingdom of Morocco attaches great importance to the development and diversification of its relations with the People's Republic of China in all fields. In accordance with the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President XI Jinping, who agreed to establish a multidimensional strategic partnership during His Majesty's historic visit to Beijing in May 2016," says the Moroccan Embassy in China.
Morocco has frequently reiterated its adherence to the One China policy, stressing the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries, as well as the commitment to strengthen cooperation at all levels.
Morocco issued a similar statement in 2022, emphasising the country's position of support for China on the issue, highlighting its principled stance of respecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other UN members.
On the other hand, although China adopts a neutral stance and a 'seemingly disinterested position' on the Western Sahara issue, the Asian giant 'sometimes gives the impression of being inclined to favour the Moroccan offer', considers Yahia H. Zoubir of Chatham House.
Similarly, the president of the Moroccan parliament's House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, during a meeting last year with the leader of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, Zhao Leji, welcomed China's favourable vote on Resolution 2654 to extend the mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Rabat considered this vote as a kind of "recognition of the territorial unity" of Morocco.