Officials have hailed the strength of the partnership that continues to emerge as a cornerstone of the China–Africa dialogue in Xi’an, in China’s Shaanxi Province.
The Union of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions of Africa (UCESA), currently chaired by Morocco’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), was in the spotlight during a bilateral
meeting with the China Economic and Social Council (CESC).
This meeting which is the first between Wang Dongfeng, President of the CESC and senior member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Abdelkader Amara, President of Morocco’s CESE and of UCESA, marked an important step in deepening institutional cooperation. It followed the progress made in Shanghai in November 2024, where a joint declaration was signed, and built on the outcomes of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, which explicitly recognized UCESA’s contribution.
In his remarks, Amara reaffirmed UCESA’s commitment to fostering pragmatic cooperation in addressing shared economic, social, and environmental challenges.
He emphasised Morocco’s historic role in dialogue with China and reiterated King Mohammed VI’s vision for a triangular partnership linking Africa, Morocco, and China, founded on mutual trust and shared prosperity. Amara also highlighted key areas of focus, including digitalization, innovation, and infrastructure financing, which align closely with Africa’s development ambitions and China’s cooperation agenda.
For his part, Wang Dongfeng commended UCESA’s structuring role within Africa, particularly praising Morocco’s leadership in enhancing the organisation’s visibility and influence.
He noted that the CESE’s stewardship has enabled UCESA to expand its reach and represent a growing number of African countries. The upcoming accession of Equatorial Guinea’s Economic and Social Development Council was cited as a concrete step toward greater regional integration.
Wang also situated this partnership within the broader vision promoted by President Xi Jinping, referencing initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global
Civilization Initiative.
These frameworks, he stressed, aim to build a community with a shared future for humankind, a goal that resonates strongly within the context of China–Africa cooperation.
At the conclusion of their talks, both parties agreed to hold the fifth UCESA–CESC Roundtable in Africa during the first half of 2026, and to continue consultations in Rabat, at Amara’s invitation.
Amara will also take part as a special guest at the upcoming China Economic and Social Forum, a platform dedicated to global issues ranging from sustainable development to artificial intelligence.
Held in Xi’an from September 18 to 19, this year’s forum underscored the growing importance China and Africa place on mutual learning between civilizations, while reaffirming Morocco’s central role in building institutional bridges between the two continents.
MK/ac/lb/gik/APA
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