Casablanca, Morocco

Moroccans visit a Chinese booth featuring CICAF products at a Chinese-themed Morocco shopping festival in Casablanca on June 27. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A Chinese-themed shopping festival was inaugurated in Morocco on June 27 with 20 Chinese product booths displaying bamboo flutes, Chinese fans, scarves and other Chinese handicrafts.

As the capital of the cartoon and animation industry, Hangzhou captured the crowds with dazzling creative products and designs featuring CICAF, including cartoon postcards, mascot-shaped phone cases, and reusable bags.

"I've always been fond of Chinese culture, and it's a real surprise to see Chinese comics in Morocco," said a Moroccan student from Casablanca University who bought several postcards featuring Hangzhou comics.

Chen Dongyun, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, said that he looks forward to CICAF and other Chinese intangible cultural heritages coming to Morocco and strengthening international cultural exchange.

"Morocco is an important market connecting Europe and Africa. It has great influence in Africa and Southern Europe, both economically and culturally," said Chen Ying, general manager of the Zhejiang-based international exhibition service company, adding that the Morocco trip not only opened markets for CICAF but also saw a liking among young people in Morocco for CICAF.