Delegation of Moroccan political parties visits Shanghai

A delegation of Moroccan political party officials, led by Marouane Chbaattou, a member of the Political Bureau of the National Rally of Independents and vice-president of the Finance and Economic Development Committee of the House of Representatives, visited Shanghai on Friday.

The delegation, composed of members representing various political parties, including the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, and the Istiqlal Party, sought to gain insights into China's approach to governance and public policy.

Their itinerary included visits to the memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Wuliqiao Subdistrict Party and Community Service Center, and the Lenovo Future Center.

The delegation's visit to the Wuliqiao Subdistrict Party and Community Service Center, a hub integrating services from community affairs to business support, particularly resonated with Chbaattou. The center streamlines access to a range of services, embodying a comprehensive, one-stop approach.

"This is exactly what we are aiming for and what we are looking for," Chbaattou said.

He emphasized the delegation's mission to "understand how this success story of the Chinese people is happening", envisioning similar centers that would bring public policy closer to the people in Morocco.

The Wuliqiao center houses the Wuliqiao Subdistrict Community Affairs Service Center and the Wuliqiao Subdistrict Business Service Center under one roof.

The Community Affairs Service Center, recognized as a 5A-level service center in Shanghai, handles 198 community affairs items, nearly all of which can be processed online or city-wide.

The Business Service Center, organized around a comprehensive service system, provides comprehensive support to businesses, including policy consultation and project matchmaking.

Earlier in the day, at the memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the delegation explored the birthplace of the CPC, housed in a traditional Shanghai shikumen building dating back to 1920.

Later, the delegation visited the Lenovo Future Center in Shanghai, which showcases cutting-edge technological innovations across smart cities, intelligent manufacturing, smart education, smart agriculture, and intelligent offices.

Chbaattou was impressed by the range of applications on display, particularly those related to agriculture, an area where Morocco has significant expertise.

"It may give us some ideas. We have seen the coffee-making robot application. It's a very innovative way of doing things," he said. "China is at the cutting edge of industry."

He stressed the importance of attracting Chinese investment, particularly in areas like renewable energy and artificial intelligence, to drive Morocco's economic growth and technological development.

The delegation's itinerary also included a visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center on Sept 27.

Luo Bin contributed to this story.