On January 11, 2010, the government of Morocco announced it formally recognizes China’s market economy status.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is in Morocco on a visit, and Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taieb Fassi Fihri on the same day signed a joint communiqué between the two governments on Morocco's recognition of China's market economy status in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. The communiqué pointed out that in light of China’s enormous achievements in developing a market economy, the government of Morocco formally recognizes China’s market economy status in accordance with the WTO agreement.

Yang said at a press conference after his talks with Fihri, Morocco's recognition of China's market economy status will further push forward bilateral economic and trade relations.

Sources say China is now the third largest import market for Morocco, with trade between the two countries reaching 1.86 billion US dollars in the first 9 months of 2009.