Beijing.. Akhannouch talks with Chinese Vice Premier
Heba Press/. Rabat
Today, Thursday, September 5, in Beijing, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met with Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council, Deng Xuexiang, on the occasion of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Mr. Akhannouch, who represents His Majesty King Mohammed VI at this summit, was accompanied at this meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Investment, Management and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohsen Jazouli, and the Ambassador Director General at the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, Mohamed Mithqal, the Ambassador of the Kingdom in Beijing, Abdelkader Al-Ansari, and the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, Chakib. Laalaj.
During these exchanges, the two parties praised the excellent relations between the two countries in various political, economic, social, cultural and educational fields, in accordance with the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping.
The two officials also stressed mutual support on core issues of their countries in regional and international forums.
The Head of Government stressed that the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the People’s Republic of China in May 2016 gave a strong boost to relations between the two countries, after the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership, expressing his hope that this dynamic will continue to be strengthened and developed in the future.
Mr. Akhannouch also expressed the Kingdom’s willingness to strengthen its fruitful and strategic cooperation with China, particularly within the framework of the tripartite and multidimensional partnership between Morocco, China and Africa.
In this regard, the Head of Government highlighted the multiple initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of Africa, which reflect Morocco’s commitment to peace, stability, regional integration and sustainable development on the continent.
He mentioned in particular the international initiative aimed at facilitating access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean, which aims to allow this region to have direct access to the ocean which will benefit them, and thus strengthen trade and economic exchanges, in addition to the “Africa-Atlantic Country Series” (PEAA), which is a pioneering initiative aimed at making the Africa-Atlantic area a zone of peace, stability and common prosperity.
The Prime Minister added that this issue also concerns the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, which aims to create a strategic energy corridor strengthening energy cooperation and stimulating economic growth in the region.
For his part, the Chinese Vice Premier, accompanied by several senior Chinese officials, stressed the “unique” nature of bilateral relations, particularly since the visit of His Majesty the King to China in 2016.
Ding said China is ready to work with Morocco to deepen cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, trade and investment, culture, education and tourism, stressing the importance of opening up new horizons for the bilateral strategic partnership.
This meeting was followed by a lunch chaired by the Vice Premier and the Chinese Premier, hosted by the Chinese President in honor of the Moroccan delegation participating in the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit.
The summit opened today, Thursday, in Beijing, with the participation of the Chinese president and African heads of state and government, including Morocco.
