Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian held talks here Monday with Abderrahmane Sbai, minister delegate in charge of administration of national defense in the prime minister's office of Morocco.

Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, said that Morocco is one of the first African countries to forge diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China.

Chi said that the two countries have maintained good relations and fruitful cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields since they established diplomatic relations more than 40 years ago.

He said that the two countries' armed forces have also had gratifying contact and cooperation.

Chi said that Sbai's visit will add an important page to the history of the exchanges of the two countries' armed forces.

Chi thanked the Moroccan government for its adherence to the One-China stance and its support to China on the human rights issue.

Sbai said that the relationship between the two countries’ armed forces is an important part of the state-to-state relations, and his current visit is to carry out the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries to continue to develop friendly relations of cooperation between the two countries.

He said he hoped to learn more about China and the Chinese armed forces in order to push forward the friendly relations between the two countries and between their armed forces.

Prior to the talks, Chi hosted a welcoming ceremony for Sbai.

(Xinhua News Agency 06/18/2001)