Chinese media reported on Friday that Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, confirmed to Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, during his short visit to the Kingdom on Thursday, “Beijing’s support for the security and stability of Rabat.”
According to Chinese media, Xi Jinping stressed that “Beijing is ready to continue supporting work alongside Morocco on issues of common interest.”
The same sources said that “the Chinese president stressed his country’s desire to develop the strategic partnership between Rabat and Beijing, and recalled the increasing growth of these relations, especially after the visit of King Mohammed VI in 2016, where they held fruitful discussions.”
The sources indicated that Xi Jinping spoke about China’s “readiness to work with Morocco to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, and to seek to achieve more results in practical cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.”
For his part, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan conveyed “the greetings of King Mohammed VI to the Chinese President, and his warm welcome to him,” stressing that “relations have developed positively.”
According to the same sources, King Mohammed VI thanked the Chinese President for “his country’s support for Rabat during the Covid-19 pandemic”, stressing that “the Moroccan people will not forget this”.
King Mohammed VI stressed, according to Chinese media, that “the two countries adopt similar positions on many issues, and that Morocco is ready to work with China to firmly support each other to preserve national sovereignty, security and stability”.
Upon instructions from King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan received Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, on Thursday evening in Casablanca, who is on a short visit to the Kingdom.
Upon his arrival at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, the Chinese President was greeted by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.
Afterwards, Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, came forward to greet Xi Jinping, before reviewing a formation of the Royal Guard that saluted.
Afterwards, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the Chinese President were greeted by M’hamed Mhidia, Wali of the Casablanca-Settat region and Governor of Casablanca Prefecture, Abdellatif Maazouz, President of the Regional Council, Jalal Benhayoun, Governor of Nouaceur Province, Mohamed Al-Salmani, President of the Nouaceur Provincial Council, and Abdelaziz Al-Radi, President of the Nouaceur Commune. Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Xi Jinping were also greeted by Li Changlin, Chinese Ambassador to Morocco, Zhou Zhishang, Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, Xia Qilin, Military Attaché at the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom, and Zheng Wei, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy. At the entrance to the airport’s VIP lounge, the Chinese head of state, accompanied by a delegation consisting in particular of Kai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo and Director General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Office of the Central Committee for Foreign Affairs, and Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, was offered dates and milk, in keeping with authentic Moroccan traditions. After a short break in the VIP lounge of the airport, the official procession headed to the residence of the Chinese president in the economic capital of the Kingdom.
