A Moroccan delegation led by the Association of Presidents of Prefectural and Provincial Councils is on a working visit to China from October 30 to November 8, marking a new phase in Morocco-China relations. Headed by Noureddine El Azrak, the association’s first deputy president, the trip follows an invitation from China’s ambassador to Morocco and puts local and regional governments, rather than national institutions alone, at the center of bilateral exchanges for the first time.
The delegation’s first stop was Yichang, a city known for its expertise in water management. Moroccan officials met with representatives of Kanhoba, the company involved in extending Morocco’s high-speed rail line toward Marrakech, before visiting the Three Gorges Dam, one of the world’s most prominent examples of hydropower and water resource management. Discussions focused on Morocco’s growing water stress and the technological solutions China has developed to address similar challenges.
Talks with Yichang’s deputy mayor, Gao Yongqiu, produced an agreement to maintain regular coordination, organize a remote meeting with the Salé prefectural council, and explore an artificial intelligence partnership with Berkane province. The president of the Oued Eddahab provincial council highlighted his region’s economic strengths, including tea production, an area where Yichang has its own expertise, pointing to potential common ground.
In Wuhan, the next leg of the trip, conversations expanded to academic cooperation. Wuhan University, which already has ties with Casablanca’s Hassan II University, discussed new avenues for research partnerships and training programs. The delegation also toured two Chinese technology firms: Max Nova, which develops educational robotics and smart equipment, including tools for children with disabilities, and Forbon, a soil-analysis and precision-agriculture company that already works with Morocco’s OCP Group and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and is exploring seawater desalination projects for Oued Eddahab.
Beyond its diplomatic symbolism, the visit reflects a shared ambition to root Morocco-China cooperation in concrete needs, including water, technology, research and local development, rather than relying solely on traditional institutional exchanges. It also signals Beijing’s growing interest in Morocco’s local governments, as the Kingdom continues to expand technology-driven partnerships across its regions.
