Morocco Partners with China’s Sinopharm for COVID-19 Vaccine Trials and Production

Morocco and China have chosen to "stand up, actively and in solidarity, to this unique challenge in the history of humanity." These words from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, at the signing ceremony mark the commitment of the two countries to associate their efforts to find this vaccine.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China and Morocco have embarked on close and fruitful cooperation. This collaboration will allow the Kingdom to ensure that the Moroccan citizen is among the first to be served in terms of vaccination against the coronavirus, rejoiced the Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Rabat, Jun Mao at this ceremony. Morocco will be able, probably very soon, to produce a vaccine as part of the exchange of expertise between Rabat and Beijing, he added.

According to Mr. Ait Taleb, the vaccine trials will initially involve volunteers starting next week. The agreements concluded will allow Morocco to have its own vaccine as soon as possible. This is the launch of a first experience of clinical trials of vaccines in the Kingdom, which has a significant legal arsenal in this area, Mr. Ait Taleb was keen to specify.

Mr. Mao pointed out that the two parties will be able to deepen cooperation through these clinical trials and that they will be able to achieve satisfactory results as soon as possible and benefit the two peoples.

These agreements revolve around three components, namely cooperation in the Phase III clinical trials of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine and overall cooperation, while the third component concerns a desire to open up to the South and the North.