2. Economic and trade relations, economic and technical cooperation Some observers remain skeptical of the reality of this development under the new agreement and the increase in planned investments.84 The most important question is not whether the two sides will complete the project, but how they are addressing the obstacles facing Sino-Moroccan economic relations. Scientist Dong Liu suggests: “Only by properly addressing the relevant obstacles can cooperation between China and Morocco in terms of production capacity be fully implemented… Chinese companies face many obstacles to investment in Morocco, both subjectively and objectively. 85 He says that although 100 Chinese companies will move to Tangier Tech City, there are currently few Chinese companies in Morocco. In 2005, in Rabat, the leaders of the Chinese and Moroccan parliaments pledged to promote the development of bilateral relations in all areas, including trade. [3] Moroccan trade remains dominated by its main import and export partner, France, although France`s share of Moroccan trade is declining to the benefit of the United States, the Persian Gulf region and China. If we consider the EU as a single entity, it is by far Morocco`s largest trading partner. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. Economic relations with China are only one aspect of Morocco`s overall vision to attract investment. The strategic partnership is part of an attempt to diversify the economy and attract as many partners as possible to invest and trade with the country.
This does not mean that Morocco`s traditional relations with the European Union or with the United States, which granted Morocco non-NATO ally status and a free trade agreement signed in 2006, will be relaxed. King Mohammed stressed that “Morocco is free in its decisions and decisions and is not the exclusive reserve of a country; it will continue to honour its commitments to its partners, and the latter [China] should not believe that its interests will be affected. 62 Morocco continues to have a trade imbalance with China, as it has done with most of its traditional partners over the past two decades.70 Morocco`s exports to China are mainly low-value-added products, such as.B. minerals. , slag and ashes, 71 Meanwhile, Moroccan imports are a more diversified range of products from China, most of which are high value-added products, such as electronics, coffee, spices, knitted or hooked fabrics, vehicles, steel products and plastics.72 Hicham Boudraa welcomed the delegation and said morocco attaches great importance to the development of economic and trade relations.
