Chinese president's visit to Morocco will boost bilateral ties

The official visit Chinese President Jiang Zemin will pay to Morocco on Oct. 27-30 will give a new impetus to Moroccan-Chinese relations, China's Ambassador to Morocco, Mu Wen said.

Zemin is currently in London, part of a tour that will also take him to Portugal, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.

Rabat and Beijing hang great hopes on Zemin's visit to open new horizons for the promotion of cooperation between the two countries.

According to official figures, trade between the two countries totaled $252 million in 1998 against $100 million in the 1980's.

Six Chinese enterprises have been operating in Morocco's fisheries sector over the past 10 years. The two countries also cooperate in social fields, as 120 Chinese physicians are currently working in 12 hospitals in Morocco.

Morocco is carrying out an ambitious desalination project, using nuclear power, with Chinese assistance.

Zemin's visit to Morocco comes after the official one that Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, paid to China last year.

The visit had a great impact on the Chinese people and gave a strong boost to bilateral ties, the Chinese ambassador said.

Morocco and China will mark on November 1, the 43rd anniversary of their diplomatic ties, established in 1956.