Speaking at a recent Chinese-Moroccan virtual forum on tourism, the Chinese official called on the two countries to take measures to facilitate the resumption of tourist flows as soon as the pandemic ends, to strengthen cooperation in the sector of tourism, to promote hotel and restaurants infrastructure and means of transport and to consolidate cooperation in training.

Xu welcomed the intensification in recent years of the dynamism of tourism and cultural cooperation and exchanges between the two countries, recalling as an example that in December 2018, the Chinese Cultural Center was opened in Rabat, while Morocco has become, thanks to the constant evolution of bilateral relations, one of the most attractive Arab countries for Chinese tourists.

Morocco was one of the first African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1958, he recalled, noting that the decision of Chinese President Xi Jinping and HM King Mohammed VI Establishing a Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the Sovereign's visit to China in May 2016, opened a new page on the path of strengthening bilateral relations.

The Chinese official also stressed that the two countries have worked together to end the health crisis, noting that Morocco has expressed solidarity with China, provided it with important support at the onset of the crisis and took good care of Chinese citizens stranded in Morocco, while China has actively supported Morocco. This solidarity lays a solid foundation for promoting cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Moroccan Ambassador to China Aziz Mekouar stressed that the holding of a tourism forum between Morocco and China provides an opportunity to share views and experiences in matters of tourism cooperation and recovery of the sector affected by the pandemic.

The Forum will have a positive impact on the strengthening of bilateral cooperation relations, in particular the promotion of the two tourist destinations in the post-pandemic phase, noted the ambassador in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Mourad Ayachi.