China Eyes Investment Opportunities in Morocco’s Southern Provinces

China has entered the race for investments in the southern Moroccan provinces, said Chawki Ben Zahra, an Algerian political opponent residing in France, to Rue20, specifying that the Chinese giant could start by establishing a Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Dakhla in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Atlantic port which should be operational by 2029.

China’s stated interest in the Moroccan Sahara is justified in this context marked by the return to power of Donald Trump, who had recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara in 2020 and had committed to opening an American consulate in Dakhla, and the announcement of investments by France after its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over this territory.

According to Spanish media, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a recent visit to the Canary Islands, mentioned the possibility of opening a Chinese consulate in Laayoune. Xi Jinping is seeking "to imitate Trump’s 2020 declaration by opening a consulate in Laayoune," say Chinese sources.

The Chinese president should make a stopover of a few hours in Morocco, on his way back from his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Lima, Peru, and the 19th G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Moroccan authorities are preparing to give a warm welcome to Xi Jinping, whose visit, although unofficial, could herald good news about the Sahara. However, these are only rumors!