Morocco Strengthens Ties with China, Signs ’New Silk Roads’ Agreement

Cooling of relations between Morocco, France, Spain and Germany, crisis with Algeria due in particular to the Sahara issue... All these reasons are pushing the kingdom to turn to China with whom it is working to strengthen its relations. According to a close associate of the Moroccan authorities, Morocco "is staging the diversification of its partnerships at a time when the relationship has cooled with its traditional partners such as Spain, France or Germany," reports the French newspaper L’Opinion.

Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, is the conductor. He had made a visit to Budapest in December, where he met in particular with his counterparts from the Visegrad group countries. On Wednesday, he signed the partnership agreement for the implementation of the "New Silk Roads", a strategic initiative to build ports, railways, airports and industrial parks aimed at improving connections between Asia, Europe and Africa.

This agreement will facilitate access to Chinese financing to carry out major projects in Morocco, facilitate trade, the creation of joint ventures in the industrial and energy sectors, research and technological cooperation. Ning Jizhe, vice-president of the National Commission for Development and Reform, who signed this agreement, says that China has made a commitment to encourage its companies to invest in the kingdom. For its part, Rabat is highlighting its preferential access and proximity to European and African markets to attract Chinese investment, with Algeria ahead of the kingdom. "China’s direct investments have reached $380 million," Ning Jizhe said.