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Rabat — Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita will travel to China on September 19-20 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday that Bourita is going on a visit based on an invitation from his Chinese counterpart.
The visit comes as bilateral relations between Morocco and China continue to strengthen, particularly in the economic sector. The two countries have expanded their cooperation across multiple areas in recent years.
The two countries signed a convention in 2002 to avoid double taxation. The convention had the purpose of easing cross-border trade and investments between Morocco and China.
The watershed moment arrived in 2016 with a strategic agreement signed during the King’s state visit to Beijing.
The Asian country has emerged as Morocco’s third-largest commercial partner and its primary supplier since 2021.
In November 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in the North African country for a short yet significant visit. He confirmed his country’s readiness to foster it partnership with Morocco.
The Chinese invitation carries significant weight for Morocco as it reflects the attention the country is giving to the North African country as a strategic ally of China in Africa and the Arab world.
Specific timing of the visit
Bourita’s visit also holds special significance as the UN prepares for a new session dedicated to the UN Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) at the Security Council.
China serves as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The UN Secretary-General will present a report to the fifteen Security Council members by October, detailing developments in the region since the adoption of Resolution 2756 on October 31, 2024. This resolution extended the UN mission’s mandate in the Sahara for one year.
MINURSO head Alexander Ivanko and the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy to the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, will also brief the Security Council in closed sessions. The session will likely conclude with the adoption of a new resolution.
China’s role as a permanent Security Council member makes its position particularly important for Morocco’s diplomatic strategy regarding the Western Sahara question.
The strengthening ties between Rabat and Beijing could influence future discussions on the matter.
The visit reflects Morocco’s broader diplomatic efforts to build stronger partnerships with major global powers while advancing its positions on regional issues of strategic importance.
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