Chinese premier meets Moroccan PM on ties

CASABLANCA, Morocco - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane here on Tuesday and the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) met with Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane (R) in Casablanca on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

During the meeting, Wen said that contacts between China and Morocco have a long history and bilateral ties have grown rapidly in recent years, with significant achievements scored in their pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

The two sides should catch opportunities, strengthen contacts at various levels, consolidate political mutual trust, expand economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and uplift bilateral relations to a higher level, Wen said.

He said China is glad to see that the Moroccan government and people have properly dealt with the international financial crisis and the major changes in West Asia and North Africa and maintained social stability and economic development.

The Chinese premier also said great attention should be paid to people's desire for change in the region and relevant parties should solve problems through peaceful and inclusive political dialogues and protect civilian lives and property as well as their legitimate rights.

China is willing to join the international community to make unremitting efforts to boost peace, stability and development in West Asia and North Africa, he said.

Benkirane, for his part, warmly welcomed Wen's stopover, saying the Moroccan people harbor friendly feelings toward the Chinese people and appreciate China's achievements.

He said Morocco is pushing forward reforms and dealing with the changeable situation in its own way, and has all along pursued friendly policies toward China.

Morocco is willing to further boost bilateral high-level contacts, enhance economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China, improve communication and coordination on international and regional issues, and push forward bilateral ties in an all-round way, he stressed.