CHANGSHA/RABAT — The Morocco session of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) is expected to bolster Sino-Moroccan economic ties, as China's zero-tariff policy for African countries and deepening industrial cooperation create new opportunities for trade, investment and supply-chain integration.

Jointly organized by the Secretariat of CAETE and Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the event in Casablanca runs from Wednesday through Friday, marking the first major overseas economic and trade activity organized by Central China's Hunan province in Africa since China fully implemented zero tariffs for the 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.

Policy boost

Analysts and business leaders said the zero-tariff policy is expected to enhance bilateral trade and expand market access for African products in China.

Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Morocco-based Africa China Cooperation Association for Development, said the event comes at an opportune time and will enable premium Moroccan products to gain easier access to China's vast consumer market while enabling Chinese enterprises to expand their presence in North Africa and strengthen the integration of industrial and supply chains.

Bilateral trade between China and Morocco reached $10.96 billion in 2025, up from $9.04 billion in 2024. China has remained Morocco's third-largest trading partner globally and its largest trading partner in Asia for many consecutive years.

In 2025, China's exports to Morocco reached $9.88 billion, while imports from Morocco stood at $1.08 billion.

Industry observers said the zero-tariff policy will reduce export costs for Moroccan goods and enhance their competitiveness in the Chinese market.

Jawad Kerdoudi, president of the Moroccan Institute of International Relations, called the policy a mutually beneficial strategic move, saying it will help reduce Africa's trade deficit with China, attract more Chinese investment and bring capital, technology and jobs to the continent.

Driving cooperation

Hunan stands out as one of China's most proactive provinces in developing economic and trade relationships with Africa. Yang Yi, general manager of Hunan Yufei Industry Investment Co Ltd, said preparations for the Morocco session have been underway for months, with coordinated engagement between Chinese and Moroccan enterprises.

The company is promoting Moroccan specialty products, including argan oil and essential oils, through its "African Products" brand system.

During this year's May Day holiday, an African specialty products fair held in the provincial capital, Changsha, attracted nearly 100,000 visitors over six days.

"We hope to expand sourcing channels and strengthen supply chains so more high-quality Moroccan products can enter the Chinese market under African brands," Yang said.

Leveraging resources

Beyond trade, Sino-Moroccan ties are increasingly shifting toward industrial integration and supply-chain collaboration.

Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City is one example. As of March, it had signed agreements with 42 enterprises, including 34 Chinese companies, with planned investment totaling about $3.5 billion.

Chinese lithium battery materials producer BTR New Material Group is building cathode and anode material projects at the site and is expected to create more than 1,100 skilled jobs.

Morocco, the world's largest exporter of phosphate and rich in cobalt and lithium, is leveraging its resources base to develop a new energy industrial chain linking Moroccan resources, Chinese processing capacity and European markets.

Equipment from Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co Ltd has also been widely used in major infrastructure projects in Morocco, including venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Financial institutions such as Agricultural Bank of China's Hunan branch are also strengthening cross-border financial support for Chinese enterprises operating in Morocco.

Green growth

Green development has become another key pillar of China-Morocco cooperation. Moroccan business leader Imad Toumi, CEO of Managem group, cited several joint projects, including a battery-grade cobalt sulfate project in Marrakech and a seawater desalination project in Nador.

"These projects reflect a model that combines economic development with environmental protection," Toumi said.

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

"China-Morocco cooperation is steadily advancing toward higher-quality and more sustainable development," said Xiao Hao, executive dean of the Institute of African Studies at Hunan University. "With the CAETE's Africa tour kicking off in Morocco, economic, cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries are poised to reach a new level."

XINHUA-CHINA DAILY