Five diesel locomotives manufactured by Chinese company CRRC Ziyang were received on Tuesday, September 8, at the headquarters of Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF).
The ceremony was attended by China’s ambassador to Morocco, Yu Jinsong, ONCF Director General Mohamed Rabie Khlie, and CRRC Ziyang President Chen Zhixin. Zheng Wei, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy, also attended the event.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, these five locomotives are the first batch delivered by CRRC Ziyang. The Chinese manufacturer delivered them within seven months, despite transport-related difficulties.
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During the ceremony, Mohamed Rabie Khlie highlighted the speed with which the project was carried out. The ONCF director general said the delivery of the first five locomotives within the scheduled timeframe demonstrated the Chinese company’s ability to execute the project.
He also stressed that their delivery supports the renewal of Morocco’s railway system, as well as the transport infrastructure needed to support upcoming major events, particularly the 2030 World Cup.
The deployment of the new locomotives comes as Morocco pursues a major program to modernize its railway network and renew its rolling stock, particularly in anticipation of the expected increase in demand for transport over the coming years.
For her part, Ambassador Yu Jinsong described the railway sector as one of the main examples of Sino-Moroccan cooperation in infrastructure.
The Chinese diplomat said the deployment of the new locomotives provided a concrete illustration of the integration of Chinese industrial capabilities into Morocco’s railway network.
She said the Chinese Embassy would continue to serve as an intermediary between companies from the two countries to promote deeper cooperation across various sectors and help strengthen the strategic partnership between Rabat and Beijing.
