Latest news with #Sino-Moroccan
TimesLIVE
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Sino-Moroccan COBCO begins producing EV battery materials
Sino-Moroccan company COBCO said on Wednesday it had begun production at a plant for lithium-ion battery components in Jorf Lasfar, 125km south of Casablanca. COBCO is a joint venture between Moroccan investment fund Al Mada and CNGR Advanced Materials, a battery materials producer. Morocco's proximity to Europe, automotive industry, free trade deals, and available phosphates and cobalt make it attractive to Chinese EV battery makers. In a first phase, the plant will produce two key components for lithium-ion batteries: nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and precursor cathodes (pCAM), COBCO said in a statement. The materials will be produced from nickel, cobalt and manganese, which are key components for EV batteries and stationary energy storage, it said. Ultimately, the $2bn (R35.17bn) plant targets an annual capacity equivalent to 70 gigawatt-hours, enough to equip 1-million vehicles, a source close to the project told Reuters.
Morocco World
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
How Hassan II Challenged the UN to Embrace China in 1960
Doha – In 1960, Morocco's Crown Prince Hassan stood before the United Nations. He questioned the absence of China from the international body. 'Is it fair and just that 600 million people, a third of the world's population, are simply not among us?' he challenged. The future King Hassan II's historic appeal for China's admission to the UN has resurfaced. Chinese state news agency Xinhua recently shed light on this pivotal moment in Sino-Moroccan relations. The Crown Prince's powerful address advocated for the inclusion of the People's Republic of China. He urged UN member states to acknowledge China's legitimate place in global governance. 'Is it normal that we meet them in our embassies, in our commercial treaties?' he questioned. 'Is it possible to imagine meeting Chinese representatives in various embassies while this house, which should be everyone's house, remains closed to them?' His appeal emphasized realism in international relations. 'I ask the United Nations, I ask all countries present here, to be realistic, to face the problem and admit the People's Republic of China,' he declared. The Crown Prince astutely noted that China's participation would carry 'certainly a greater weight than its opposition to the General Assembly of the United Nations.' UN finally embraces the People's Republic Morocco was a key African supporter of China's admission to the United Nations. Africa contributed the most favorable votes (26) when the People's Republic of China finally entered the UN in 1971. The resolution admitting the PRC passed with 76 votes in favor, 35 against, and 17 abstentions. This came after a six-day debate on the resolution initially presented by communist Albania with support from twenty-two other countries. Prior to 1971, China was represented at the UN by the Republic of China government. This nationalist government had retreated to Taiwan following the communist victory in mainland China in 1949. The 1971 UN resolution recognized the representatives of the People's Republic of China as 'the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations.' It also expelled the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the position 'they illegally occupy.' Bridging continents through tangible cooperation Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1958, Morocco and China have developed strong bilateral ties. These relations are based on mutual respect, solidarity, and trust. King Mohammed VI's 2016 visit to China came with a clear message: a renewed commitment to deepening bilateral ties, sealed by the signing of a strategic partnership covering key mutual interests. President Xi Jinping made a stopover in Casablanca last November, where he held talks with Crown Prince Moulay Hassan. China now stands as Morocco's third-largest trading partner worldwide and its largest in Asia. Trade between the two countries reached $8 billion in 2023. Chinese companies increasingly target the Moroccan market. They focus particularly on automotive, renewable energy, textile, and agro-industry sectors. Morocco serves as China's gateway to the European Union and the United States. The country's strategic geographical position and free trade agreements make it a key player in intercontinental relations. Morocco became the first North African country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2022. Since then, Morocco has witnessed a surge in strategic Chinese investments. Major projects include the Mohammed VI City of Tangier Tech, Chinese participation in the Noor solar complex, and railway development between Kenitra, Marrakech, and Agadir. China Eastern Airlines and Royal Air Maroc launched new flight routes in January. These connect Shanghai and Beijing with Casablanca three times weekly. Chinese tourism to Morocco has flourished since visa requirements were abolished in 2016. Visitor numbers rose from 118,000 in 2017 to 200,000 in 2019. Both countries are now engaged in an innovative partnership for 2025-2027. This collaboration aims to tackle water scarcity through advanced treatment facilities and water-saving technologies. The relationship between Morocco and China continues to evolve. It builds upon the foundation laid decades ago when Crown Prince Hassan advocated for China on the world stage. Read also: Morocco Guest of Honor at China-Arab Business Conference Tags: King Hassan IIMorocco China Relations
Morocco World
28-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Minister Mezzour: China-Morocco Partnership is ‘Tangible' in Industry, Trade, Logistics
Doha – This morning, Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade opened the 11th edition of the entrepreneurs conference at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum with a virtual message to the attendees in Haikou, the capital of China's southern Hainan province. Morocco is being featured this year as a guest of honor at the forum, which the minister said reflects its position as a strategic partner to China. 'This distinction embodies the Kingdom's status as a strategic partner to China,' Mezzour said, recalling King Mohammed VI's historic visit to Beijing in 2016 that revitalized bilateral relations through a strategic partnership declaration. Mezzour recalled Morocco's early participation in the Belt and Road Initiative among Arab nations. 'The Sino-Moroccan partnership is now tangible in industrial, energy, and logistics sectors,' he stated. The minister referenced substantial infrastructural achievements during King Mohammed VI's 25-year reign, including the high-speed train connecting Casablanca and Tangier, and the Tangier Med port complex. Morocco's strategic geographic position offers access to 2.4 billion consumers across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, attracting international investors through economic openness and reforms in legal and financial sectors. 'We've established special economic zones like Casablanca Finance City and provide state support for promising national economic projects,' Mezzour noted. He proposed creating a China-Arab digital platform to facilitate entrepreneur interactions and connect investors with project developers. Mezzour also advocated for training programs focused on artificial intelligence and green economy to equip young talent with skills demanded by the global market. The minister called for support mechanisms for small and medium enterprises, describing them as 'the backbone of Arab economies,' through dedicated investment funds and technical assistance for international expansion. The Moroccan delegation at the forum, led by Ambassador Abdelkader El Ansari, includes representatives from the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), Bank of Africa, and Attijariwafa Bank. Other speakers, including Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, Ren Hongbin, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and Khaled Mohamad Hanafy, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, noted that trade between China and Arab countries has grown from $36.7 billion in 2004 to over $400 billion in 2020. The two-day conference, held alongside the 9th investment seminar at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, hosts over 1,000 participants, including local economic operators and Moroccan entrepreneurs based in China. Morocco's exhibition stand, the only national display at the event, is showcasing investment opportunities and tourism attractions, drawing significant visitor interest. The conference features four thematic sessions on energy transition, scientific and technological innovation, cultural and tourism synergies, and financial cooperation development. A special session on investment opportunities in Hainan's free port is also scheduled. Established in 2005, the entrepreneurs conference at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has evolved into a crucial platform for advancing economic and commercial relations between China and Arab nations. Following the conference, business visits will take place to various economic zones in Hainan Province, including the Wenchang Space Launch Center and the Yangpu Economic Development Zone. Read also: Morocco Signs Investment Deal with Chinese Textile Giant Sunrise Group Tags: Morocco China RelationsRyad Mezzour
