China Seeks to Accelerate Strategic Partnership with Morocco

Rabat — China is looking to deepen and accelerate its strategic partnership with Morocco, with a stronger focus on trade, industrial investment, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, Chinese Ambassador to Morocco Yu Jinsong said during celebrations marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Speaking in Rabat, the ambassador described the relationship between the two countries as entering a new phase, a decade after Morocco and China established their strategic partnership in 2016 under Chinese President Xi Jinping and King Mohammed VI.

Yu said bilateral ties have evolved beyond traditional diplomacy into a broad economic partnership encompassing trade, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, and investment. The year 2026 also marks the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Trade and Investment Exceed $10 Billion

According to the ambassador, bilateral trade between Morocco and China has surpassed $10 billion (MAD 91 billion), while Chinese investment commitments in the North African country have also exceeded $10 billion (around MAD 91 billion).

She said Morocco’s geographic location, industrial ecosystem, and extensive network of free trade agreements position it as a strategic gateway linking China with Africa, Europe, and the Arab world. Beijing, she added, aims to expand productive investments that create local value and strengthen industrial cooperation.

Tanger Tech at the center of industrial cooperation

Yu highlighted the Tanger Tech industrial city as a flagship project of Sino-Moroccan cooperation. More than 40 companies have already signed agreements to establish operations at the site, which is expected to attract over $4 billion (about MAD 36.4 billion)  in investment and create more than 22,000 direct jobs.

The project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Morocco joined through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2017. In 2022, Morocco became the first North African country to conclude a dedicated cooperation plan under the initiative.

The ambassador said Tanger Tech illustrates the shift in bilateral relations from commercial exchanges toward long-term industrial partnerships integrated into global value chains.

Expanding access for Moroccan exports

China also wants to broaden access for Moroccan products to its domestic market. Yu called for the effective implementation of China’s zero-tariff policy for eligible Moroccan exports, saying the measure would allow more Moroccan goods to reach Chinese consumers while helping Morocco diversify its export destinations beyond traditional European markets.

Cooperation in AI and advanced technologies

Looking ahead, the ambassador identified artificial intelligence, semiconductors, aerospace, aviation, renewable energy, and digital technologies as key areas for future cooperation.

She said China supports greater international collaboration in AI development and governance and is seeking to help developing countries strengthen their digital capabilities. Morocco has backed several Chinese-led global development and governance initiatives, including the Global Development Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, reflecting growing alignment on international cooperation.

Yu also pointed to China’s long-term economic planning model as an example for future bilateral cooperation. She noted that the country’s manufacturing sector has remained the world’s largest for 16 consecutive years, while its economy continued to record steady growth under its latest five-year development plan.

The ambassador said Beijing intends to build a long-term partnership with Rabat capable of supporting major industrial, technological, and infrastructure projects, reinforcing Morocco’s role as one of China’s leading strategic partners in Africa.