Morocco eyes mutual benefits as the Chinese Belt and Road initiative is under construction, the Xinhua news agency reports. The project that was first launched by the Chinese paramount leader, Xi Jinping during a speech to the Indonesian Parliament in 2013 will contribute in the creation of a modern Silk Road spanning on 65 countries. China has promised to build a maritime road to connect coastal Chinese cities to Africa and the Mediterranean, a step that would increase global economic cooperation and stimulate the country's economy. Morocco will also benefit from the giant project as it is going to bring opportunities to the North African country. «The Belt and Road initiative heralds a new era of cooperation that will benefit all. Morocco embraces the initiative fully and is optimistic about it», Jaafar Hakim Laalej, the former Ambassador to China told the same source. China is going to host on the 14th and 15th of May a Forum in Beijing to discuss the Silk Road project. For the record, the Belt and Road, also known as 21st Maritime Silk Route Economic Belt is a strategic initiative to boost investment and foster collaboration across the historic Silk Road.
