Mr. Akhannouch holds talks with Chinese Vice Premier in Beijing
Beijing – The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, met on Thursday on the occasion of the holding in Beijing of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with the Chinese Vice-Premier, Ding Xuexiang.
Mr. Akhannouch, who represents His Majesty King Mohammed VI at this Summit, was accompanied, during this audience, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, the Ambassador Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, the Ambassador of the Kingdom in Beijing, Abdelkader El Ansari, as well as the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), Chakib Alj. During these talks, the two parties welcomed the excellent relations uniting the two countries in various political, economic, social, cultural and educational fields, in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping. The two senior officials also welcomed the mutual support on the fundamental issues of their countries in regional and international forums. The Head of Government noted that the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the People’s Republic of China in May 2016 gave a boost to relations between the two countries, following the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership, expressing the wish to see this dynamic consolidate and develop further in the future. Mr. Akhannouch also expressed the Kingdom’s desire to strengthen its fruitful and strategic cooperation with China, particularly within the framework of the triangular 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 for Africa, thus reflecting Morocco’s commitment to peace, stability, regional integration and sustainable development in the Continent. He particularly cited the International Initiative to Facilitate Access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel Countries, aimed at providing this region with more direct and beneficial access to the ocean, thereby strengthening trade and economic exchanges, in addition to the African Atlantic States Process (AASP), a flagship initiative aimed at making the African Atlantic area a zone of peace, stability and shared prosperity. It is also, continued the Head of Government, the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project aimed at creating a strategic energy corridor promoting energy cooperation and stimulating economic growth in the region. For his part, Mr. Ding, who was accompanied by several senior Chinese officials, stressed the “unique” nature of bilateral relations, especially since the visit of His Majesty the King to China in 2016. China is ready to work together with Morocco to deepen cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, trade, investment, culture, education and tourism, noted Mr. Ding, emphasizing the importance of opening up new prospects for the bilateral strategic partnership. This audience was followed by a lunch chaired by the Chinese Vice Premier and the Head of Government, hosted by the President of the Chinese State Council in honor of the Moroccan delegation taking part in the FOCAC Summit. The work of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation opened this Thursday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and African Heads of State and Government, including Morocco.
2024-09-07 00:22:39