In an interview with Radio China International (CRI), Mr. El Ansari stressed that Africa “constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of Moroccan foreign policy”, adding that China also places the African continent at the heart of its priorities in international relations, development cooperation and economic partnership.
In this regard, the diplomat argued that the objectives of Rabat and Beijing “converge towards better involvement in policies devoted to the development of the African continent.”
And to affirm that this convergence is particularly evident in the automobile sector, where the two countries display common ambitions.
He maintained that the combination of Chinese technological expertise, particularly in hybrid and electric vehicles, with the Moroccan industrial ecosystem rich in human skills and raw materials, is capable of opening the way to production intended not only to the Moroccan and African markets, but also European and Latin American.
He also discussed the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting China’s ambition to conclude a free trade agreement with the continent as a whole, starting with bilateral agreements with African countries. members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Morocco.
Focusing on the tourism aspect, Mr. El Ansari welcomed the resumption of direct flights by Royal Air Maroc (RAM) between Casablanca and Beijing from January 2025.
He considered that this link should stimulate tourist activity, particularly thanks to the visa exemption for Chinese tourists introduced in 2016 and the growing interest of Moroccan tourists in China as a cultural destination.
The Casablanca-Beijing air route should also boost trade between the two countries, which is developing rapidly, and facilitate the travel of Chinese companies present in Morocco, he continued.
The ambassador concluded by highlighting the strategic importance of Casablanca as an extended stopover for Chinese travelers to West and Central Africa.