A joint statement between the China Writers Association and the Moroccan Writers Union

As part of an agreement signed between the China Writers Association and the Moroccan Writers Union, a high-level delegation representing the Chinese organisation has paid a cultural visit to Morocco, which falls within the scope of strengthening the ties of friendly relations and cultural cooperation between the two Parties.

During their stay, members of the Chinese delegation, chaired by the Vice-President of the China Writers Association, the novelist Zhang Ping, hailed their successful and fruitful five-day visit to Morocco, during which they met officials representing some national institutions (the House of Counsellors, the Royal al-Hassania Library, and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council). They also visited some Moroccan historical cities where they met a panel of intellectuals, writers and creators (Rabat, Volubilis, Meknes, Fez, Marrakech and Casablanca).

At the end of the visit, the two Parties stressed the importance of the current cultural relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the People’s Republic of China. They also expressed their common wish to further strengthen and scale up cooperation to positive and sophisticated forms of bilateral cultural action in a way that would serve the future of culture, thought, and creativity, and promote relations and experience-sharing between intellectuals in the two friendly countries.

Meanwhile, the two Parties discussed and debated on the current world issues, and took note of the tensions, conflicts and worrying crises in many areas, thus leading to terrorist dangers and death threats to intellectuals, creators and innocents in some countries.

Faced with this situation, the two Parties vowed to stick to the principles of peace, stability and coexistence between peoples, and denounced plans and attempts to deprive them of their legitimate right to live in unity, stability and security. They also called on intellectuals, writers and cultural bodies in both countries to more solidarity, and join forces to counter extremist ideas and all forms of isolation and clash of cultures and civilisations.

In this regard, the Chinese delegation hailed some aspects of development the Kingdom of Morocco is undergoing, and praised, in particular, the breadth, wealth and fertility of Moroccan culture, and its prospective aspirations. It also estimated the positive roles played by the Moroccan Writers Union in terms of culture, and admired the pace of development and openness experienced by the Kingdom of Morocco. This includes a cultural movement reflected by the interest the national constitutional institutions attach to culture in public policies and greater development projects.

Finally, the Moroccan side thanked the Chinese members for their visit, the travel burden they endured, and their understanding of the requirements of the extensive visit programme.

Done in Casablanca on 19 October 2016

The Chinese Writers Association  The Moroccan Writers Union