Rabat – Minister of Agriculture Ahmed El Bouari, held talks on Monday in Marrakech with China’s Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying to discuss strengthening multidimensional cooperation in the agricultural and water sectors.
The two officials explored cooperation opportunities in water security and food sovereignty.
During the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 19th edition of the World Water Congress, the two parties emphasized the countries’ shared commitment to enhancing water resources as a lever of economic stability and sustainable development in the face of climate challenges and increasing pressure on natural resources.
El Bouari and Guoying stressed the need to consolidate the exchange of expertise and technologies in irrigation, water management, and desalination to ensure an equitable and efficient allocation of resources among the various hydraulic basins.
The Moroccan minister also welcomed the agricultural cooperation between Morocco and China, particularly in agronomic research, technology transfer, agricultural modernization, and the development of human and institutional capacities.
He recalled Morocco’s integration into the Chinese “Belt and Road” initiative in 2017 and the ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the joint cooperation plan under this initiative since January 2022. The initiative includes “Green Belt” projects aimed at combating desertification and promoting the use of renewable energy.
Morocco aims to benefit from Chinese expertise in drip irrigation technologies, water filtration, and inter-basin water transfer, he said, stressing the importance of investment in renewable energies and modern agriculture.
Guoying stated that China is working to develop joint solutions with its partner countries, including Morocco, to address the challenges of climate change and ensure water security.
He referred to China’s considerable efforts in the agricultural sector, particularly in water filtration and the adoption of drip irrigation. In addition, the Chinese minister spoke of consolidating ties in advanced technologies and expertise sharing to preserve water resources and improving agricultural productivity.
Morocco and China face similar challenges in terms of water security, such as the need for desalination projects and equitable water distribution, the Chinese minister said, citing the two countries’ cooperation and potential to identify shared priorities and strengthen the exchange of expertise.
Guoying also emphasized the importance of knowledge and experience sharing between China and Morocco to develop concrete partnerships capable of addressing environmental challenges and strengthening food and water security in the region.
China and Morocco agreed to continue the transfer of expertise and best practices in the management of water and agricultural resources for the benefit of partners, particularly in Africa. Both countries called for strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange to ensure the sustainability of infrastructure and meet the future needs of agriculture in both countries.
MWN with MAP