Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is based on three key principles: sharing, dialogue and synergy. It harmonizes commercial policies of states to deliver to the community of peoples.

This initiative aims to strengthen trade flows and improve connectivity between China and Africa, Europe, the Middle East as well as South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is presented as a revival of the historic Silk Road, a cluster of open transcontinental trade routes by China, which connected the Middle Kingdom to the shores of the Mediterranean.

The BRI is designed as a globalized version of the ancient Silk Road. This initiative is expected to bring together more than 60 countries, representing approximately 63 percent of the world's population and 30 percent of the world's economic production by 2025.

The BRI represent a multi-dimensional project whose aim is to offer a new impetus to globalization and strengthen multilateralism. Through this initiative, China also wishes to share the gains of its experience and generate benefits to developing countries, mainly in Africa.

The Chinese approach is in perfect sync with Morocco’s Royal Vision of the autonomous development of Africa; it is a model based on cooperation that is beneficial to all parties. In fact, Morocco's cooperation with African counterparts has always relied on the pursuit of common interests and not on hegemony or leadership.

In the same context, the continent's development needs are at the heart of the Kingdom of Morocco's concerns and, in particular, the issue of electrification, for which China can provide innovative and efficient solutions.

A decisive step in relations between Morocco and China was reached in May 2016, during the visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to China. On the occasion, the two countries concluded a strategic partnership, including some 15 agreements in numerous fields, such as the economy, finance, industry, culture, energy and infrastructure.

Today, in light of BRI and the changes that affect the world, the relationship between Morocco and China is at a historic turning point.

In a world undergoing major changes, the two partners must redefine their role and the modalities of cooperation to go along with the transformations of the international system. Thus, the BRI is a historic opportunity, a consensual and participative vision of international relations that Morocco is determined to contribute to.

Oriented to the future, cooperation between the two countries should promote growing integration between their economies, their peoples and their cultures. It should involve all actors and, in particular, think tanks that can play a key role in strategic convergence and scientific cooperation.

China is fully aware of the importance of extending its horizon and to develop its cooperation, not only with countries, but also with the regions of the world which share the same concern in terms of political, economic and cultural fallout of globalization. In this context, with its involvement in South-South cooperation, Africa and the Arab world are essential partners. Accordingly, there is a key role that Morocco could play because of its African, Mediterranean and Arab characteristics.

The future of Africa is at the heart of the Sino-Moroccan dialogue. The strategic partnership with Morocco is seen as a pre-condition and a guarantee for the success of tripartite cooperation in Africa.

A historical champion of the African cause, a pivot in tripartite relations of China-Morocco-Africa, China-Morocco-Europe and China-Morocco-North America and benefiting from a strategic geographical position, modern infrastructure, an opening to the world and free trade agreements with three continents, Morocco has undeniable assets which, without doubt, can contribute to the success of the BRI and make a crucial contribution to the autonomous development of Africa.

The rollout of the BRI is expected to face challenges of various categories, including:

Geopolitics: the BRI should face European and American resistance that fears a powerful rise of China. The deployment of this initiative coincides, moreover, with the exacerbation of tensions in the South China Sea and the deterioration of relations between the United States and Russia.

Security: security threats have intensified along the Belt and Road. Whether in Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia or other regions that are part of the initiative, terrorism and political instability could threaten the six land corridors under the BRI framework.

Financial: the realization of the BRI requires huge funding. The plausible total amount of investments deemed necessary by 2049 is estimated at twice China's annual GDP.

To this end, it is necessary to look for ways to reduce development imbalances between the different regions and China. It is also important to extend cooperation, beyond state frameworks, to all actors.

In addition, it is essential to rethink the relationship between security and development. The troubles that many Arab and African states are going through today are proof that security cannot be achieved without development and that the reduction of poverty is a prerequisite for political stability. This is a fundamental principle of the BRI project, which reflects the vision that has always been advocated the Kingdom of Morocco.

Finally, to be favorable to all partners, tripartite cooperation must be achieved by respecting three conditions: improving self-understanding and the understanding of the other, disseminating the right messages and identifying strategic actions so that cooperation takes place at the lowest economic and political cost.

Mohammed Tawfik Mouline is director general of the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies, Morocco.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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