Il Marocco “guarda” alla Cina: narrazioni, percezioni e impatto della Belt and Road Initiative

Barbara Onnis

Sino-Moroccan relations, formally established in 1958, have undergone a widely acknowledged qualitative upgrade in conjunction with two key diplomatic milestones: Morocco’s accession to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in November 2017 and the signing of the Implementation Agreement in January 2022. This study investigates how these developments have shaped the domestic debate, particularly as reflected in Moroccan media. Through qualitative content analysis of articles from five representative national outlets – “Le Matin”, “Bayane Al Yawm/Al Bayane”, “L’Économiste”, “TelQuel”, and “Hespress” – complemented by research reports and Arab Barometer survey data, the study explores narrative frames, editorial orientations, and discursive shifts surrounding the evolving partnership. Findings reveal a generally favorable portrayal of Sino-Moroccan cooperation, highlighting economic opportunities, infrastructure development, and Morocco’s geostrategic positioning while critical perspectives – though present – remain relatively marginal and focus mainly on risks related to indebtedness, industrial dependency, and environmental impact. Public opinion appears cautiously receptive to deepened engagement with China, although structural factors – foremost Western Sahara diplomacy – continue to shape the strategic parameters of Morocco’s foreign policy choices.

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