Morocco's premier starts official visit to Pakistan

Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, arrived in Islamabad this Monday on a four-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of chief executive, General Pervez Musharraf.

Youssoufi, who will convey the president of Pakistan, Mohamed Rafiq Tarar, a verbal message from King Mohammed VI, had told reporters upon departure from Rabat Sunday that Morocco seeks, through this visit, the first of its kind, to raise the level of cooperation between the two countries in all areas.

Youssoufi described bilateral relations as "strong" as evidenced, he said, by Pakistan's backing to Morocco in its independence struggle and by Pakistan's stand in favor of the kingdom's national cause.

The visit will highlight by the signing of four cooperation agreements on the promotion and protection of investments, tourism, industry and technology.

Youssoufi is accompanied by minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, minister of transport and merchant navy, Abdeslam Znined, minister of economic forecasts and planning, Abdelhamid Aouad, and secretary of state for scientific research, Omar Fassi Fihri.

Secretary general of the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, Rachad Bouhlal, businessmen and journalists are also part of Youssoufi's party.

Morocco and Pakistan, which have both contributed to the setting up of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), are bound by several cooperation accords, including a trade agreement that was signed in 1962.

Pakistan ranks 68th among Morocco's suppliers and 32d among its clients. It imports from the kingdom natural and chemical fertilizers, phosphates, pneumatics and lead. Morocco's imports from the Asian country are made up of fabric, synthetic fibers, cotton, leather, skins and cotton thread.

In 1999, the global volume of exchanges was worth some 500 million DH (about $ 45 million).