China and Morocco agreed in Rabat Monday to make joint efforts towards continuous and further development of bilateral friendship and cooperation in various fields.

 

The agreement was reached between 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.

 

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 US and Saudi Arabia, and will also take him to Nigeria and Kenya.

 

China-Morocco trade reached US$150 million in 2005, increasing by 28 percent compared with the previous year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2006)