Speaker of the House of Representatives Holds High-Level Talks with Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami held talks on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the seat of the House, with the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Zhao Leji, currently on an official visit to our country at the lead of a high-level delegation upon the invitation of the Speaker of the House.

The meeting was an opportunity where the two parties commended the great leap that marked the Morocco-China cooperation since the historic visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify him, to China in 2016 and the talks His Majesty held with the President of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Xi Jinping, culminating in the signing of a joint declaration announcing the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, Mr. Zhao Leji, expressed his joy regarding the visit to the Kingdom of Morocco as his first foreign destination since his election as Chairperson, which reflects the depth and strength of relations between the two countries. In the same respect, he noted that this year commemorates the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He added that the visit aims to consolidate the views of the leaders of the two countries, reinforce the Morocco-China friendship, and advance cooperation between them in all fields.

For his part, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami welcomed the Chairperson of NPC's Standing Committee and his entourage. In the same vein, the Speaker underscored that the two countries have mutual interests and share the same values of constructing international relations on the basis of peace, security, the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference in their internal affairs, and utilizing the capacities of peoples for development and prosperity.

The two parties tackled several questions of mutual concern and explored the means to consolidate parliamentary relations between the two legislative institutions under the Memorandum of Understanding concluded in 2021. They also discussed the possibility of creating a parliamentary, economic, and cultural forum between the institutions. Moreover, they expressed their strong determination to reinforce cooperation and consultation between the two institutions, their parliamentary committees, and friendship groups.

The meeting was attended from the Moroccan side by the Deputy Speakers of the House and members of its Board: Rep. Khadija Ezzoumi, Rep. Mohammed Ouzzine, Rep. Nadia Touhami, Rep. Hassan Benomar, and Rep. Zaina Idehli.

The Chinese side featured Mr. Liu Qi, the Secretary General of the National People's Congress; Mr. Zhong Shan, the Chairperson of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee; Mr. Lou Qinjian, the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Mr. Yu Weiguo, the Chairperson of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee; H.E. Li Changlin, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Morocco; Mr. Deng Li, the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Hu Xiaoli, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Standing Committee, and other members of the NPC's Standing Committee.