King Mohammed meets visiting Portuguese prime minister

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, received Tuesday afternoon at the royal palace in Meknes, 170 north-east of Rabat, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.

Barroso arrived earlier in Fez on a work visit to Morocco, was accompanied by his country's ambassador in Rabat, Rui Goncalo Chaves De Brito Cunha, head of his office, Jose Matos Correia, and his diplomatic advisor, Nino Brito.

On the Moroccan side, Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi, director of the king's office, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi, and secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri were present.

The Portuguese prime minister told reporters upon arrival that he is visiting Morocco two months after his appointment to the position. "It is very important that Morocco, a neighbor country, be one of the first countries I am visiting," he said, adding "this visit is very important to show to the Moroccan government and people the special friendship and relationship existing between the two countries."

This is Barroso's first trip abroad outside the European Union since his appointment as prime minister last April.

Barroso has met this afternoon in Fez peer Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

The two countries are scheduled to hold a summit conference next November which meets at the level of prime ministers alternately in Rabat and Lisbon. Portugal had instituted such summits with three countries only, Morocco, Spain and Brazil.

Portugal is the 3rd largest foreign investor in Morocco and trade between the two countries is worth at some 150 million Euro.

The Portuguese prime minister's visit is taking place on the eve of the European Summit and will enable the two heads of government to discuss Morocco-European Union relations in matters of agriculture, fisheries, and immigration as well as the situation in the Middle East.