Morocco: HE Mr Jaafar Alj Hakim

Morocco, a Kingdom of more than 12 centuries old, at a crossroad of civilizations, combines its own identity with openness and modernity and with a rich religious and cultural heritage.
Under the impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Kingdom has entered a new era of reforms and activity. Today, Morocco is evolving with determination and ambition in the new international context of the 21st century.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Beijing, as part of an ongoing process of strengthening the friendly relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the People’s Republic of China, is, and has been, keen to present the richness of the Moroccan culture.

For this, there exist between Morocco and China since 1982 a bilateral agreement of Scientific and Technical Cooperation. Its tri-annual application program maps out different actions, including education, scientific research, cultural affairs, monuments, arts, information, communication, youth and sports as well as religious affairs. In addition, as part of the same agreement, conferences and workshops are being organized by the Embassy with view to promoting a better understanding of the different facets of the Moroccan culture.

There exist also a MOU between Universities from Morocco and China, by virtue of which the embassy is facilitating academic cooperation. Moreover, Confucius Institute opened in Morocco since 2009, with the support of the Mohammed V University in Rabat, and serves, besides its role of teaching the Chinese language to Moroccan students, as a bridge of exchange between the Moroccan and the Chinese cultures.

An even deeper connection is still possible between the two countries as their culture do share quite a few common characteristics. The similarities can be noticed, in this brochure, more particularly in architecture like in the magical atmospheres of the Moroccan old medinas’ winding streets which recall the Hutong in China, culinary art (sweet and soar dishes), music, clothing, jewelry, tea ceremonies and in connection with the warmth of people as well. Thirst of discovery is also common: just like the Chinese admiral, Zheng He, the voyages of the 14th century’s Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta led him till China where he traveled as far north as Hangzhou to experience and borrow almost everything he could about the Chinese culture.

In one word, Morocco is a beautiful and fascinating country. While the Atlas and the Rif mountains offer a friendly environment surrounded by nature, in the Moroccan Sahara dunes and sky merge silently into infinity. You may have heard that the Kingdom brims over with contrast, color and exoticism; this is true and all you can do is simply catch your breath in wonder.