Egypt Morocco, identical views on necessity of ending Israeli aggression

"President Hosni Mubarak and king Muhammad VI of Morocco are exerting efforts with all parties concerned to put an end to Israeli aggression on Palestinians" Egypt's ambassador in Rabat Ashraf Za'za said Sunday.

In an interview with Sawt al Arab radio by telephone, he said Cairo and Rabat share identical on many Arab and international issues especially conditions in the Palestinian self-rule areas.

Mubarak is due to start a visit to morocco on January 10, during which Mubarak and king Muhammad VI will lead the joint higher committee, the only joint Arab committee to be chaired by the leaders of the two states.

Morocco's foreign minister, Muhammad Ben Issa, will arrive in Cairo Tuesday on a visit to prepare for Mubarak-Muhammad summit.

Ben Issa is due to meet with foreign minister Ahmad Maher to discuss the political file of the summit.

On the other hand, head of the Egyptian Moroccan businessmen association Yemeni Flefela said on Sunday that the preparatory meetings of the Egyptian Moroccan higher committee aim at developing bilateral relations, especially the trade ones.

The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and morocco reached $ 70 million by the end of 2001, he said, adding that many Egyptian companies are carrying out construction works in morocco with value of $ 50 million.

Economy and foreign trade minister Youssef Boutros Ghali left Cairo Sunday morning for Casablanca to take part in the Egyptian Moroccan higher committee and to prepare for president Hosni Mubarak's visit to morocco, due by the end of this week.