Moroccan, Chinese Foreign Ministers pledge stronger strategic ties in Beijing

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita held talks Friday in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties under the strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2016.

The ministers said the partnership, reinforced by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Casablanca in November 2024, provides a solid foundation for cooperation based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect. They voiced hope to elevate relations to “higher levels.”

Bourita and Wang emphasized the need to update the legal framework governing economic cooperation to secure and expand investments, particularly in promising sectors. They welcomed the ongoing review of a 1995 agreement on investment promotion and protection and agreed to encourage Chinese investment in Morocco, launch new industrial partnerships and expand trilateral cooperation benefiting Africa.

Talks also focused on infrastructure, industry, energy, digitization, innovation, renewable energy, tourism and higher education. Both ministers praised the growing flow of Chinese tourists to Morocco, calling it a key driver of economic and cultural exchange.

They underscored Morocco’s role as a regional platform for China’s cooperation with Africa and the Arab world, while highlighting China’s role as a major global player. The two sides noted their shared views on issues of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and opposition to separatism and extremism.

Bourita and Wang also reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the central role of the United Nations and the principles of its charter, including peaceful conflict resolution and non-interference in states’ internal affairs.

The visit concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding establishing a strategic dialogue between Morocco and China, aimed at deepening political consultations and expanding diplomatic and economic cooperation.