Morocco, China share ambition to promote a ‘triple win’ cooperation in support of Africa – The North Africa Post

Morocco and China share the ambition to establish a “triple win” South-South cooperation in support of Africa’s all-out development, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said in New York.

Bourita, speaking Tuesday at a high-level ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, (GDI), highlighted that Morocco has established solid and multidimensional cooperation through initiatives and partnerships under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

In this context, the FM cited the Triple S Initiative to promote sustainability, stability, and security in Africa, and the AAA Initiative to adapt African agricultural to climate change. It also cited the provision of drugs, medical equipment, and cooperation in the areas food security and climate change.

Bourita congratulated China on the launch of the GDI, praising Beijing’s efforts to promote sustainable development. He said that the launch of this initiative is timely and in a unique context, which is marked by the triple crises of food, health, and energy, as well as the search for appropriate solutions to international problems.

“The initiative also comes seven years before the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While significant progress has been achieved in several regions of the world, several countries, severely affected by the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, are lagging behind in reaching these goals,” the minister explained.

Bourita called the initiative a model of dynamic partnership to strengthen, promote and promote international cooperation. This includes South-South cooperation to implement 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The initiative will certainly contribute to strengthening global solidarity and support the efforts of developing countries to meet their development commitments, especially in the current global context,” the minister said at the meeting held on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly.

Bourita also noted that Morocco’s support for the GDI initiative stems from the friendly ties that Morocco and China have maintained for decades.

These relations have seen a renewed momentum since King Mohammed VI’s visit in 2016 to China. This visit resulted in the establishment of a strategic alliance between the two countries. He also recalled that bilateral trade increased by 50% between 2016-2021.

China’s investments in Morocco have increased significantly with more than 80 projects in various fields, he said.

Bourita also noted that the Covid-19 context has seen cooperation between Morocco, China and other countries in the fields of vaccination and health. This partnership led to the creation of an industrial unit to produce anti-Covid vaccinations. This infrastructure will be a major contributor to Morocco’s self-sufficiency as well as its health sovereignty.

The signing of an agreement for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative earlier this year has strengthened the ties between these two countries. He said that Morocco was among the first African nations to join this initiative.

The FM reiterated Morocco’s support for the Global Development Initiative, which will undoubtedly contribute to accelerating progress towards achieving SDGs, particularly in Africa.

The Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) reviewed the positive progress made since the GDI was proposed, particularly after the High-level Dialogue on Global Development held on 24 June 2022.

The participants had an in-depth exchange of views on deepening practical cooperation in various priority areas of the GDI, accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting institutional arrangements of the Group, and strengthening cooperation with the UN development system aligned with national priorities and needs. They discussed the way forward for GDI cooperation and reached broad consensus.