Moroccan prime minister starts official visit to China

Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, is undertaking this December 3-8 an official visit to China, that is expected to focus on economic issues.20

The prime minister is leading a large delegation comprising ministers of transports and merchant navy, Mustapha Mansouri, of energy and mining, Youssef Tahiri, of youth and sports, Ahmed Moussaoui, of fisheries, Thami Khyari and secretary of state in charge of social protection, family and children, Said Saadi. Heads of major state-owned and private enterprises are accompanying Youssoufi in this visit to be crowned with the signing of several agreements.

The two countries are expected to open a sea line. The other agreements deal with China's construction of a nuclear reactor for the desalination of sea water in southern Morocco and with sea fisheries and fish culture.

At the cultural level, Youssoufi told MAP the two countries will enforce a cultural project destined to make Morocco more known in China and vice-versa.20

Economic relations between Morocco and China which marked this year the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations are weak and are characterized by a trade deficit that exceeded in 1998 1.3 Billion dh (usd 141.3 million) in favor of the Asian giant. Indeed, between 1994 and 1997, the deficit worsened from one billion dh (usd 108.6 million) to 1.3 billion dh (usd 141.3 million) in 1997.

During the first six months of 1998, Morocco imported from China 20,000 tons of tea for a total value of 370 million dh (usd 40.2 million) and exported goods worth 340 million dh (usd 36.9 million).

Morocco's exports are mainly made of phosphates products, essentially natural and industrial fertilizers for a total value of 410 million dh (usd 44.5 million) in 1997 and 300 million Dh (usd 32.6 million) for the first half of 1998. Other exports comprise fish products and cobalt.

China has contributed its technical assistance to several projects in Morocco, mainly the building of a sports compound in Rabat and fishing villages.