Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met in Beijing Tuesday with Abbas Fassi, secretary-general of the Independent Party of Morocco, and his party.  

Jia said that China and Morocco have conducted fruitful cooperation in the political, economic, trade and cultural fields, and the friendship between the two peoples has been enhanced.

He said that China attaches importance to its relations with Morocco, and thanked it for support to China on the human rights and Taiwan issues.

He stressed that the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) would like to further the relations with all the political parties in Morocco based on the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Fassi said that Morocco and China have maintained frequent high-level exchanges of visits in recent years, and his current visit demonstrates another step for the further development of the traditional friendship.

He expressed gratitude for the aid offered by China to the African countries and other developing countries.

He also spoke highly of the achievements China has made under the leadership of the CPC, and expressed the willingness to further the existing friendly relations between the Independent Party of Morocco and the CPC.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2004)