Morocco and China Strengthen Academic and Sports Cooperation with an Unprecedented Agreement in Wushu Kung Fu
ALDAR/ Meryem Hafiani
The city of Temara witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Royal Moroccan Federation of Wushu Kung Fu and the Shanghai University of Sport. This initiative marks a new milestone in the growing Moroccan-Chinese relations and reflects the shared interest in expanding partnership areas to include sports, culture, and academic training.
The meeting brought together a Moroccan delegation led by Mr. Abderrahmane Sennaghi, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Wushu Kung Fu, and his Chinese counterpart, Mr. Li Yin, Dean of the Shanghai University of Sport. The event culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at enhancing sports training, exchanging expertise, and offering academic coaching opportunities in Wushu, one of the oldest martial arts in Chinese culture.
In his remarks during the signing ceremony, Mr. Sennaghi expressed his pride in achieving this long-prepared cooperation, highlighting that the agreement will allow Moroccan Wushu Kung Fu practitioners to benefit from the deeply rooted Chinese sports traditions. This will be made possible through advanced training programs and high-level academic instruction led by professors and experts from the Shanghai University of Sport.
He added that the agreement will help raise the level of technical training and sports coaching in the Kingdom, providing Moroccan youth with access to prestigious academic institutions, especially amid growing interest in this martial art among younger generations and enthusiasts of culturally and historically significant combat sports.
For his part, Mr. Li Yin noted that the collaboration with Morocco aligns with the Shanghai University of Sport’s global partnership strategy, particularly with countries involved in the “Belt and Road” initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017. The initiative aims to build multidimensional relationships based on knowledge-sharing, experience exchange, and mutual cooperation.
The Chinese official emphasized that the signed memorandum represents a clear commitment from both sides to promote cultural and educational exchange. He also recalled the historical ties between the two countries, dating back to the Silk Road era, when trade and cultural relations flourished between the peoples of Asia and North Africa.
He further announced the launch of academic programs for Moroccan athletes and students, including the “Belt and Road Summer School,” which will offer participants scientific and professional training, as well as exposure to training and research methods adopted by Chinese universities.
Li Yin extended an official invitation to the Royal Moroccan Federation of Wushu Kung Fu and Moroccan youth interested in specialized training to visit Shanghai and participate in academic exchange programs. He affirmed that the university’s doors will remain open to all ambitious talents seeking to develop their skills and engage with global sports experiences.
This initiative comes within the framework of a renewed cooperation dynamic between Rabat and Beijing, reflecting the mutual desire to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive and innovative partnership. In this vision, sports and culture serve as effective channels for fostering mutual understanding and building bridges between generations.
