China Seeks to Expand Multisectoral Cooperation with Morocco as Gateway to Africa
Gong Zheng, mayor of the municipal People's Government of Shanghai, conveyed his country's ambition on Tuesday in Rabat during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the deployment of the first Chinese medical teams to Morocco.
During the event, the Chinese mayor emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries at all levels, including within the medical sector.
He said that the Chinese medical teams have worked alongside their Moroccan counterparts to contribute to developing Morocco's healthcare system over the past five decades.
He also said the experience contributed to boosting lasting ties of friendship and cooperation, hailing the growth and momentum in relations between China and African countries, which stems from President Xi Jinping's pledge to elevate these ties.
For his part, Minister of Health Amine Tahraoui said that Morocco and China share a common vision for African development at all levels, including investment and technical cooperation, among others.
He said that Morocco and China aspire to develop triangular cooperation with African countries, not only in health but also in other key sectors.
Morocco is well-positioned to actively contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems, medical training, local pharmaceutical production, and expanding healthcare coverage across the continent, Tahraoui said.
The Moroccan health minister emphasized how the Morocco-China partnership extends into fields like digital health, AI in medical care, training, biomedical research, and integrative traditional medicine.
Morocco and China are tied with several joint initiatives, including the Bright Journey, a campaign targeting eye diseases, as well as the establishment of a traditional Chinese medicine center in Mohammedia. China donated medical equipment to Morocco during COVID-10, and has also trained Moroccan professionals in Chinese hospitals.
In terms of economy, trade between the two countries increased by 50% between 2021 and 2022, reaching $7.6 billion. This makes China Morocco's third-largest trading partner and its top economic ally in Asia.
China also injected $56 million into key sectors like transport, energy, and real estate.
Mehdi Laraki, president of the Morocco-China Business Council, said in March 2024 that Morocco receives nearly 40 Chinese delegations annually, with China seeing the North African country not only as a standalone market but also as a gateway to Africa and Europe. Tags: China and Moroccorelations between China and Morocco
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