King Mohammed holds phone talks with Saudi crown prince

King Mohammed VI had phone talks with Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, heir apparent of Saudi Arabia, vice-president of the ministers' council and chief of the national guard, Saudi television reported on Sunday.

Talks covered bilateral relations and the latest developments on the Arab and international scenes.

Prince Abdullah also received a message from the Moroccan king.

The message was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa at a meeting in Riyadh Sunday.

Benaissa visited Saudi Arabia to take part in the 6th meeting of the Moroccan-Saudi high joint commission.

On Saturday, Benaissa met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdel Aziz, to whom he conveyed the greetings of King Mohammed VI.

Benaissa held meetings with several Saudi officials, including the ministers of defense, Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, information, Fouad Ben Abdeslem Al-Farissi, and of trade, Oussama Jaafar Fakih.

Talks focused on issues of mutual concern, ways to enhance economic cooperation and trade exchange, as well as relations between the Moroccan and Saudi private sectors.

The cooperation program between Morocco and Saudi Arabia in the fields of youth, sports and culture was debated at a meeting between Benaissa and Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, chairman of the Saudi youth protection body.

Benaissa voiced appreciation for Saudi Arabia's backing of Morocco's candidacy to host the 2006 World Cup soccer finals and hailed efforts by Prince Sultan, chairman of the Arab Football Union.

The foreign minister told MAP that he informed all his Saudi interlocutors that for King Mohammed VI, the promotion of Morocco's relations with the Gulf states, and particularly with Saudi Arabia was a strategic choice, dictated by the challenges thrown at the Gulf region and at Morocco.