The forum "Belt and Road", held in Beijing on 14 and 15 May, brought together more than one hundred countries, including Morocco. The slogan is to further facilitate trade, strengthen infrastructure interconnection, reduce production and transaction costs, and achieve optimal resource distribution on the global scale (Ph. Chinese Embassy)

The prospects for Sino-Moroccan economic and trade cooperation are very broad. This is what emerges Forum "Belt and Road", held on 14 and 15 May in Beijing, with good Moroccan participation.

According to Ning Jing, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, the initiative to build economic zone of the Silk Road and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, launched by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, in autumn 2013, aims to achieve shared development in complementarily, by strengthening international cooperation and alignment of development strategies.

Since then, a broad consensus has emerged in the international community, with the accession of a hundred of countries and international organizations and the ratification of some 40 cooperation agreements. A large number of cooperative projects were launched or completed. And the Asian Investment Bank for Infrastructure (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund were created.

"One of the largest economic and trade partner of China in Africa, Morocco has reacted positively to the initiative, expressing his wish to take part. In the future, China and Morocco will work together to realize a new common development plan, "said Jing Ning. He continued: "The visit to China made by SM the King in May 2016 was a huge success."

The two heads of state on this occasion, exchanged views on the cooperation in the framework of the "Belt and Road", signed the joint communiqué on the establishment of a strategic partnership, and co-chaired a ceremony for the signing of several bilateral agreements, including those in the fields of energy, mining, infrastructure, industry and investment, laying a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in the new era.

Since then, both sides have actively exchanged views on development concepts and experiences in order to align their respective strategies and define the priorities for their future cooperation. Many converging views were met. Now Sino-Moroccan relations are placed on a new level, and bilateral cooperation on a new starting point.

"We are convinced that the" Belt and Road "Initiative will open new horizons to Sino-Moroccan cooperation, with a view to a continuous enrichment of the Sino-Moroccan strategic partnership", underlines the diplomatic officer. Specifically, the Sino-Moroccan cooperation has greatly expanded with several new flagship projects.

Thus, a Chinese company took over the project of the thermal power plant in Jerada (350 MW), with a Chinese loan of 3,000 million US dollars, creating more than 5,000 jobs for local residents. The same company, in cooperation with a Spanish company, is working for the construction of Noor II and III in Ouarzazate, one of the largest solar power plants in the world.

"Other technology companies represented by Huawei are now the main partners of the three major Moroccan telecommunications operators, and also provide training programs to Moroccan professionals in the sector," says Jing Ning.

In the financial sector, Bank of China (BOC) and the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank) have a representation in Morocco, and BMCE will soon open a branch in Shanghai. Moreover, in order to accelerate and expand their cooperation, Morocco and China outline other sectors that can serve as a driving force. These include electricity, ports, rail, industrial platforms, finance and new energy.

Negotiations are underway for the creation of Tech City and the establishment of a car parts plant. The two sides also seek shipping cooperation opportunities, plant, natural gas and solar energy, concludes the economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy.

New hopes and new perspectives

With a privileged location, complete infrastructure base, steady economic growth and social stability, Morocco is increasingly a place of choice for entrepreneurs from various countries. For Jing Ning, "alignment of strategies and industrial complementarity between China and Morocco will create new opportunities for cooperation". Morocco has the potential to become a new platform for Chinese companies eager to cooperate with foreign countries and to enter the African and European markets. "We hope that the Chinese and Moroccan authorities will strengthen their coordination, especially regarding the conclusion of a free trade bilateral agreement, the installation in Morocco of the Chinese manufacturing industry, cooperation in transport and logistics infrastructure and financial cooperation and in the field of modern service ", adds Jing Ning. The mobilizing of Chinese and Moroccan business community to discuss bilateral cooperation with a strategic vision for a brighter future of Sino-Moroccan relations is not left behind.

Original Source: leconomiste.com
 

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