On October 21,2026, Yuan Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Changsha Municipal People’s Government, met with Mehdi Laraki, President of the Morocco–China Business Council of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), to discuss cooperation between Morocco and Changsha. Yu Xiayuan, Secretary of the Party Group and President of the Changsha Council for the Promotion of International Trade, as well as representatives from the Changsha Municipal Logistics and Port Bureau and the Changsha Foreign Affairs Office, also attended the meeting.
Yuan Zhao warmly welcomed Mr. Laraki’s visit. He noted that Morocco was the first country in North Africa to sign a cooperation agreement with China on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Morocco is not only an important manufacturing base in North Africa, but also a strategic gateway between Europe and Africa.
In recent years, bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and Morocco has developed steadily, with frequent exchanges between the public and private sectors. As a pioneering zone for deepening China–Africa economic and trade cooperation, Changsha benefits from favorable policies and a supportive business environment.
Changsha’s leading industries, including construction machinery, new energy, automobiles, and auto parts, are well aligned with Morocco’s industrial development needs. Both sides can make full use of various platforms, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the China–Africa Economic and Trade Expo, and the establishment of free trade zones, to jointly advance cooperation projects that match supply with demand.
Yuan Zhao also invited Morocco to establish a permanent economic and trade office in Changsha, laying the foundation for deeper and more sustainable cooperation.
During the meeting, both sides held in-depth discussions on the potential and opportunities for cooperation in areas including bilateral trade and investment, logistics and distribution channels, and the establishment of sister-city relations.
Mr. Laraki also visited the Changsha Council for the Promotion of International Trade, where he toured its international exchange facilities and received a detailed briefing on the platforms, transport operators, resources, and connectivity channels supporting international cooperation and China–Africa collaboration. He expressed confidence in the future development of bilateral cooperation.
Morocco, known as the “Pearl of North Africa” and the “Land of Phosphates,” benefits from a strategic geographical location and abundant natural resources. As the most influential employers’ organization in the region, CGEM boasts an extensive network and substantial resources, making it a key player in advancing practical bilateral cooperation.
Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FGVHN-p8wpV04TNSjpBM5A
