By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday visited Morocco on his way home from the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Brazil, where he was received into the capital, Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.
The stop-over was intended to advance the nations’ strategic partnership with Morocco, according to Moroccan state media outlet MAP
The visit was Xi’s first to Morocco since he became President and wasn’t mentioned by Chinese state media earlier, including China Central Television (CCTV) which had reported the news.
Under Xi, China has increased efforts to enhance ties with developing nations, partly for economic reasons but also to counter the US-led global order.
Morocco’s geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, makes it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
China has been building a battery supply chain for Europe in Morocco, which has free-trade agreements with the US and the European Union (EU).
Earlier this year, Zhejiang Hailiang Co, Ltd, a major producer of copper tubes and rods, announced plans to build a plant in Morocco for US$288 million (RM1.28 billion) to make new-energy materials, including lithium-battery foil, tapping rising global demand.
Morocco’s state-owned investment fund La Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion and Gotion High-Tech Co, Ltd signed an agreement last week to advance the development of an electric battery gigafactory in Kenitra, north off the capital, Rabat.
The $1.3 billion project, which is Morocco’s first gigafactory aims to produce lithium-ion battery cells and packs.
