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Chinese President Xi Jinping’s brief visit to Rabat last Thursday highlights Beijing’s growing interest in Morocco as a gateway to Africa and Europe, leveraging the country’s strategic location and significant transformations driven by initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI. These include efforts to promote sustainable development and regional and international security, such as the Atlantic access initiative aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation based on a win-win approach and fostering economic integration between Africa and Europe.

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China, one of Africa’s largest investors, seeks to benefit from Morocco’s position as a regional and global player. It is working to enhance ties with the Kingdom, with expectations that this partnership could lead to Beijing’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the autonomy proposal as the only solution to the conflict instigated by Algeria and the Polisario Front.

This visit follows reports from Spanish sources indicating Beijing’s intent to acknowledge Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and establish a consulate in Laayoune.

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Xi Jinping’s short visit to Morocco signals a strong desire to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the economic field, which is expected to take center stage in the coming days. Beijing is likely to expand cooperation with Rabat, especially in the southern provinces, competing with Western companies showing considerable interest in the Moroccan market and planning projects in the Moroccan Sahara.

The visit coincides with Morocco’s preparations to host two major international sporting events: the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. These events have sparked a revolution in sports facilities, airports, and rail and road infrastructure—areas that attract Chinese partners and Western companies alike.

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According to the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, accompanied by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, welcomed the Chinese president at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport under the directives of King Mohammed VI. The agency noted that the visit reflects the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples.

Xi Jinping was accompanied by a significant delegation, including Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Director-General of the Central Commission of the Chinese Communist Party; Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau and Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Committee; and Hua Chunying, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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The Chinese president made this visit following his attendance at the G20 summit in Brazil, underscoring China’s strategic interest in Morocco, a pivotal North African country where Beijing seeks to strengthen its economic presence.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco, particularly in infrastructure and railway sectors. Rabat also attracts Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturers due to its geographical proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with major markets in the EU and the US, and its well-established automotive industry.

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In June, Chinese company Gotion High-Tech chose Morocco for its first large-scale battery factory in Africa, with a total investment of $1.3 billion.

The strategic partnership between Beijing and Rabat has yielded tangible results, with Chinese investment in Morocco increasing fivefold from 2016 to 2023, while trade volume doubled during the same period, making China Morocco’s leading Asian partner.

Politically, the visit follows reports from Spanish sources indicating Beijing’s preparation to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and to open a consulate in Laayoune. China is also reportedly considering investments in a land bridge connecting Morocco’s Saharan provinces to the Spanish Canary Islands, which Xi Jinping recently visited.

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These developments, if confirmed, demonstrate that world leaders, including the Chinese president, have fully grasped King Mohammed VI‘s assertion that “the Sahara issue is the lens through which Morocco views the world.”

Conversely, Algeria is deeply concerned about the Sino-Moroccan rapprochement. A recognition by Beijing, traditionally an ally of the Algerian regime, of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara would represent a significant blow to Algeria.

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