The agreements were signed by the Minister of Health Mr. Khalid Ait Taleb, on the Moroccan side, and, on the Chinese side, by the leaders of the group" Sinopharm CNBG “(China National Biotec Group Company Limited), in the presence of Mr. Bourita, who pointed out, on this occasion, that "today we are tracing the outlines of a pioneering and visionary relationship (...) through paving the way for SINOPHARM CNBG's strategic presence in Morocco”.

These agreements, he added, strengthen bilateral cooperation in three areas, the first of which concerns cooperation in Phase III clinical trials of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine. The minister said that the second part relates to global cooperation, while "the third is about a desire to transcend our two countries, to open up to the South and to the North".

 And to clarify, in this context, that " we have, indeed, decided to conduct together these multicentre clinical trials of the vaccine, in an unprecedented first in the history of Morocco”.

 "This is how we translate (...) our commitment so that the future vaccine against Covid-19 is accessible to all, in particular the African continent", stressed the Minister.

 Mr. Bourita also shed light on the strategic partnership, concluded in May 2016 in Beijing by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, and President Xi Jinping, which marked a significant development in the relations between Morocco and China.

 The very close cooperation "which has not failed at any time", even at the height of the pandemic, is the daily demonstration of this, Mr. Bourita noted, adding that Morocco and China have chosen "to face up, actively and in solidarity, this particular challenge in the history of humanity".

Mr. Nasser Bourita, who underlined the importance of an authentic and long-standing friendship between the two countries, noted that "our confidence in the seriousness and the reliability of the Chinese expertise is full".

This friendship has led to "a concrete and fruitful cooperation", which was of the utmost importance to support the Moroccan response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he stressed, recalling that from the start of the pandemic, Morocco has chosen to turn to China, "as a privileged partner, in this difficult test".

"And Morocco was right in this choice. Because, China's support has never wavered. It has been precious, efficient and generous," he said.

Morocco was "loyal and constant. At each stage of the pandemic, it has reaffirmed its attachment to cooperation with its Chinese partner," Mr. Bourita pointed out.

These agreements were signed in the presence of the Chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank of Africa Group, Othman Benjelloun, the Chairman and CEO of SOTHEMA, Lamia Tazi as well as the chargé d'Affaires at the Chinese embassy in Rabat, Juan Mao.