"Today, we are not just welcoming friends from afar, but more importantly, we are bridging the gap between the business communities of Shanxi and Morocco," said Radouane Chaouki, deputy head of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in China on Sept 22 at the China-Morocco Economic and Trade Cooperation Industry Matchmaking Conference.

The conference was a key part of the 2026 Shanxi (Taiyuan) International Trade and Investment Promotion Event, held from Sept 21 to 22 in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

During the event, representatives from sectors such as agriculture, automotive, new energy, building materials, education, and talent development engaged in face-to-face discussions, aligning the industrial needs of both regions.

Agriculture emerged as a focal point for many Shanxi enterprises. Salim Aït Belhadj, economic counselor at the Moroccan Embassy in China, highlighted Morocco's "Green Generation Plan" (2020-30), which aims to modernize agriculture. He noted the strong complementarities between the two regions in agricultural technology, agro-processing, and sustainable development.

"Education and talent exchange form the foundation of economic and trade cooperation," said Zhang Yanhua, president of Splendid Future (China) International Education Group. She expressed her desire to establish a platform for bilateral student exchange and talent development, enabling more Moroccan students to learn about China and Shanxi while supporting Shanxi enterprises with a robust talent pool as they expand internationally.

"This kind of exchange is very meaningful," said a Moroccan student studying in Shanxi, "allowing both sides to truly understand each other and turning more ideas into practical actions." He hopes for more such activities in the future.