King Mohammed in Moscow

Morocco's King Mohammed VI arrived in Moscow yesterday for an official visit to Russia

The sovereign will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin and will receive several Russian officials.

King Mohammed VI is accompanied by an official delegation comprising minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, royal advisors, Mohamed Moatassim and Ahmed Midaoui, minister of economy, finance, tourism and privatization, Fathallah Oualalou, minister of sea fisheries, Said Chbaatou, minister of industry, trade, energy and mining, Mustapha Mansouri, minister in charge of the national defense administration, Abderrahmane Sbai, secretary of state for ports and information and telecommunication technologies, Nasr Hajji and Morocco's ambassador in Moscow, Abdelmalek Jeddaoui.

The official visit is seen as a step forward in enhancing economic cooperation ties between Rabat and Moscow, ties often believed to be short of bilateral political relations.

Morocco and Russia had laid down the first foundations for their cooperation back in 1966, when the late King Hassan II paid a visit to the former Soviet Union. During the visit, several accords were signed, particularly in economic, scientific, technical and cultural realms.

Despite these accords, trade and economic exchanges remained low at $ 250 million in 1997. Still, Morocco is Russia second partner in the Arab world after Egypt.

In the first half of 2002, trade exchanges were worth 2.07 billion DH (US$ 195.2 million), including 1.63 billion DH of Moroccan imports and 438 million DH of exports.

Moroccan imports consist of crude oil, metal, iron and wheat while exports include crude sulfur, barley, natural and chemical fertilizers, citrus fruits and vegetables.

Since 1987, Morocco and Russia have signed a series of agreements on fisheries and are now probing a new agreement that accommodates Morocco's new concerns for a more rational exploitation of its sea resources.