Morocco and China continue to build on their longstanding positive relationship, with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) playing a pivotal role in fostering deeper economic cooperation. Abdelkader El Ansari, Morocco’s Ambassador to China, highlighted the growing synergy between the two nations during his tenure, emphasizing the vast potential for collaboration under the BRI.
El Ansari, who began his role in February, has visited various regions in China, including Shandong province and Inner Mongolia, where he witnessed significant growth and development. “The infrastructure and major companies I’ve encountered across China underline the tremendous opportunities for Morocco and China to enhance economic ties,” he said, noting the strategic alignment between Morocco’s role as a gateway to Africa and the BRI’s objectives.
Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, Morocco has positioned itself as a central partner in the BRI, becoming the first North African country to sign an implementation plan for the initiative in 2022. China is currently Morocco’s largest trading partner in Asia and its third-largest globally.
One of the standout projects within this partnership is the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, a 1,000-hectare industrial zone set to host around 200 Chinese companies. The city is designed to foster next-generation projects, particularly in automotive, electronics, and robotics.
Morocco’s growing automotive sector, with exports reaching 160 billion dirhams ($16 billion) in 2023, is another area of strong collaboration with China. El Ansari highlighted the synergies between Morocco’s abundant raw materials, skilled labor, and access to European markets, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
A significant development is the $1.3 billion agreement signed in June between China’s EV battery giant Gotion High-Tech and the Moroccan government to build a gigafactory in Kenitra. The project is a testament to the growing economic ties between the two nations, particularly in sustainable industries like EVs.
Morocco’s strategic development plan aligns with the BRI, spanning 14 sectors, including infrastructure, energy, health, education, and tourism. The country has also seen a surge in Chinese tourism following the introduction of a visa waiver policy in 2016. From just 15,000 Chinese visitors annually before the policy, the number skyrocketed to 200,000 three years later. El Ansari is optimistic that Morocco will reach half a million Chinese visitors within the next few years.
The ambassador also highlighted Morocco’s active participation in key international forums, including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which serve as platforms for strengthening ties and building a shared vision for the future.
Through these initiatives, Morocco and China continue to foster closer cooperation and work together toward a prosperous future under the Belt and Road framework.