King Mohammed's visit to Paris to innovate cooperation

The state visit King Mohammed VI pays to France early next week will be the opportunity to innovate and think of new ways to enhance cooperation in the light of new changes, said the royal palace spokesman, Hassan Aourid.

Meeting the press Thursday, Aourid said the event will truly be a strategic turning point in bilateral relations which are exemplary and whose focus should now be on lasting and priority undertakings.

The king, on his first state visit abroad, will be discussing cooperation issues with President Jacques Chirac, Premier Lionel Jospin, National Assembly Speaker Laurent Fabius and the speaker of the senate, Christian Poncelet. Meetings with French businessmen are also on the sovereign's schedule.

Aourid hailed positive perception of the kingdom in France and action by cooperation joint commissions crowned by debt swapping and increased activity by the French development agency which funded several Moroccan projects. He also underscored convergence of views and agreement on several international issues, such as the Middle East question and European and African issues.

Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Mohamed Benaissa and Economy and Finance Minister Fathallah Oualalou will be part of the party to accompany the sovereign during his state visit to Paris.