Morocco positions itself as a key player in the Initiative “ Belt and Road », or « One Belt, One Road », launched by China. This approach to cooperation, materialized by the official accession of the Kingdom in 2017, reflects its desire to strengthen its international relations and consolidate its place as a strategic crossroads connecting Africa, Europe and Asia.
Morocco now occupies an increasingly important strategic place within the framework of the Initiative “ Belt and Road » or « One Belt, One Road », an ambitious project launched by China to strengthen commercial, economic and cultural connections between Asia, Africa and Europe. This cooperation approach was materialized by the official membership of the Kingdom in 2017. The Kingdom thus became an active member of this initiative, a strategic partnership which testifies to Morocco’s ambition to play a leading role in the cooperation dynamic. internationally and to strengthen its role as a bridge between Africa, Europe and Asia.
This commitment has translated into concrete actions, such as the improvement of port infrastructure and major industrial projects. The port infrastructure of Tanger Med, for example, constitutes a key element of this strategic orientation. Thanks to investments in its expansion, Tanger Med managed to triple its container processing capacity, thus reaching 9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), according to data from the Ministry of Equipment and Water. This port is now a major player in international trade, playing an essential role in facilitating trade between Europe and Africa and strengthening Morocco’s connectivity with major global markets.
The Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City project, initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is also part of this dynamic. It is a sustainable, intelligent and integrated industrial city, intended to strengthen Morocco’s economic competitiveness by promoting innovation, growth and the creation of an ecosystem conducive to foreign investment. This project aims to make Morocco a center of attractiveness in key sectors such as technology, automobiles, aeronautics and renewable energy.
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The strategic partnership between Morocco and China, sealed during the meeting between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping in May 2016, was concretized by numerous bilateral agreements. These initiatives have allowed China to become Morocco’s first Asian partner. In the automotive industry sector, a partnership with the Chinese group “ BYD Auto Industry » allowed Morocco to strengthen its position in this booming sector. The establishment of electric automobile production plants in Morocco perfectly illustrates this fruitful collaboration, which contributes to the acceleration of the country’s industrialization and its positioning as an African leader in this field.
Visit by Xi Jinping: Consolidation of bilateral relations between Morocco and China
On November 21, 2024, Morocco welcomed President Xi Jinping, marking an important milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit was an opportunity to further strengthen ties between the Kingdom and China, with particular emphasis on cultural cooperation, which occupied a central place in the discussions between the Chinese President and Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.
Discussions also focused on areas of strategic cooperation, including automobiles, renewable energy and textiles. These sectors are already at the heart of economic relations between Morocco and China, and the two countries have expressed their desire to deepen their collaboration in these key areas. This cooperation is part of the bilateral agreements concluded between the two countries, aimed at promoting mutual development and stimulating investments.
It should be recalled that in January 2022, Morocco became the first country in North Africa to sign a cooperation agreement with China as part of the “ Belt and Road “. This strategic partnership has enabled the Kingdom to strengthen its role as a commercial crossroads between Africa, Europe and Asia, while contributing to the modernization of its infrastructure and the development of projects with strong economic impact.
In addition, Morocco plays a key role within the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAF), a project aimed at creating a single market for trade and investment in Africa. The ZLECAF aims to gradually liberalize 90% of tariff lines and harmonize customs rules, thus facilitating intra-African trade. This strategic initiative strengthens Morocco’s position as a key player in trade and investment in Africa, while consolidating its leadership role in the region.
