RABAT -- China and Morocco agreed here Monday to make joint efforts towards
continuous and further development of bilateral friendship and cooperation in
various fields.
The agreement was reached between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Moroccan
King S. M. Le Roi Mohammed VI during their talks held right after Hu arrived in
the Moroccan capital Rabat for a three-day state visit.
China's President Hu
Jintao (C) and his wife Liu Yongqing (L) are welcomed by Moroccan King
Mohammed in Rabat April 24, 2006. Hu kicked off a three-nation tour of
Africa in Morocco on Monday, boosting already booming ties to a continent
rich in the energy and minerals his country needs to feed a fast-growing
economy. [Reuters] |
Hu said both China and
Morocco are undergoing reform and development and bilateral cooperation has
entered a new development stage.
Hu made a three-point proposal to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation.
The first is to continue high-level contacts, enhance governmental,
parliamentary and inter-political party exchanges, strengthen consultations and
cooperation in international and regional affairs, and comprehensively promote
bilateral friendship and cooperation.
The second is to take measures to expand bilateral trade and cooperation in
science and technology, telecommunications, agriculture, oil and gas
development, labor, project engineering and human resources training, and
encourage two-way investment.
The third is to further improve bilateral cooperation in education, culture,
health and tourism, speed up the implementation of the bilateral tourism
cooperation agreement, and promote exchanges among different localities and
non-governmental organizations of the two countries.
Hu said China pays great attention to the Sino-Moroccan ties and bilateral
relations have progressed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic
ties 48 years ago.
China appreciates Morocco's consistent one-China policy, said Hu.
Mohammed VI agreed with Hu, saying his country is ready to strengthen
cooperation with China in such fields as fishery, tourism, culture and
infrastructure.
Both sides also exchanged views on Sino-African relations and international
and regional issues of common concerns, and agreed to further strengthen
cooperation within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
After the talks, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony for a series of
bilateral cooperative agreements in the fields of economy, trade, science,
technology, culture, health care and tourism.
Morocco is the third leg of Hu's five-nation tour which has already taken him
to the United States and Saudi Arabia, and will also take him to Nigeria and
Kenya.
China-Morocco trade reached 150 million U.S. dollars in 2005, increasing by
28 percent compared with the previous year.