On May 11, Moroccan King Mohammed VI visited Beijing and signed a new “strategic partnership” with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping. It calls for heightened political and economic cooperation in the realms of renewable energy, telecoms, and industry — among other forms of potential exchange, including the realms of education, cultural, and tourism.

The recent tour of King Mohamed VI of Morocco of a number of African countries was packed with symbolism. It was a reflection of the kingdom's recent drive to expand its economic and political influence across sub-Saharan Africa, and it showed how Morocco makes use of both historic ties in the region and the kingdom's trump card - the spiritual authority of the Moroccan throne.