The Summit of the Discussion board on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), held in Beijing from September 4 to six, has strengthened Morocco’s standing as an important continental chief that locations the event and prosperity of Africa on the coronary heart of its diplomatic efforts, in accordance with the Excessive Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, could God help Him.
This important occasion was a chance to reiterate the Kingdom’s agency and concrete dedication to work with China and for Africa, fostering pragmatic and solidarity-based cooperation inside a win-win partnership framework.
This version of the Discussion board, attended by Heads of State and Authorities and high-ranking officers from China and African international locations which are members of the United Nations, is an ideal illustration of Morocco’s African coverage, which has persistently advocated for the diversification of the continent’s financial partnerships and the promotion of efficient and multidimensional South-South and triangular cooperation.
The Summit’s proceedings allowed individuals to focus on the significance of FOCAC, particularly in key areas for Africa akin to industrialization and agricultural modernization, governance, infrastructure, peace, and safety.
These priorities have been mirrored in the important thing paperwork adopted by consensus on the Summit, particularly the Beijing Declaration and the 2025-2027 Motion Plan, marking a pivotal step in strengthening China-Africa relations.
It’s price noting that for the reason that begin of the preparatory work for this Summit a number of months in the past, Moroccan diplomacy has been actively selling the Kingdom’s achievements for the good thing about the African continent, whereas additionally countering malicious makes an attempt from Algeria, each by way of participation within the Summit and within the paperwork adopted.
In each respect and on all fronts, this has been a profitable mission, due to the affected person work of Moroccan diplomacy underneath the management of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
On this regard, the Beijing Declaration and the 2025-2027 Motion Plan affirm of their first paragraph that solely African states which are members of the United Nations are members of FOCAC, debunking the Algerian falsehood that the pseudo-entity is a part of African partnerships.
Furthermore, the cardinal rules of respect for and preservation of nationwide unity, territorial integrity, and the sovereignty of African states, proposed by Morocco, have been enshrined in a number of paragraphs of each the Declaration and the 2025-2027 Motion Plan. No reference to self-determination was included, and several other hostile proposals from Algeria have been rejected. Algeria has now misplaced credibility within the eyes of a world neighborhood more and more conscious of its schemes.
The Beijing Declaration additionally acknowledged Morocco’s group of COP 22 in November 2016 and the adoption of the Marrakech Declaration following the primary African Motion Summit on the sidelines of COP22. This Summit, organized by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, noticed the participation of many African Heads of State and the launch of key initiatives, such because the creation of the three local weather commissions for the African continent.
In recognition of the Kingdom’s pioneering position in Africa within the subject of synthetic intelligence, FOCAC individuals recommended the adoption of the African Consensus on Synthetic Intelligence, following the Excessive-Stage Discussion board on AI held in Rabat in June 2024, underneath the Excessive Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Moreover, the Beijing Motion Plan makes a particular reference to the Rabat Workplace of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Program and Coaching for Africa, a powerful sign of the Kingdom’s dedication to cooperate with African international locations in eradicating this scourge in Africa and past.
On the financial entrance, FOCAC, by way of the 2025-2027 Motion Plan, praised the group of the IMF and World Financial institution Annual Conferences in Morocco in 2023, reaffirming the significance of the goals outlined within the Marrakech Declaration on accelerating Africa’s emergence, with a purpose to implement a extra equitable international monetary structure that promotes the event of Africa, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African states, and contributes to the well-being of their populations.
Certainly, Morocco, deeply engaged in FOCAC since its creation 24 years in the past, has been in a position to play a number one position within the Discussion board’s evolution, due to its privileged relations with China and African international locations. The Discussion board has advanced right into a profitable and exemplary platform for cooperation between China and Africa, inside which the Kingdom has develop into a key strategic participant.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Overseas Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
