China and Morocco have agreed to expand trade and co-operation in fields of telecommunications, agriculture, oil and gas development to boost bilateral ties.

The agreement was reached following talks in Rabat between visiting President Hu Jintao and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, during Hu's three-day state visit to the African nation.

The two leaders signed a package of accords on economic, technical, scientific, cultural and medical cooperation, the Moroccan Communications Ministry said.

Morocco-China trade has grown rapidly reaching US$1.48 billion in 2005, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry figures.

Hu arrived in Rabat on Monday local time to begin the third leg of his five-nation tour, which has taken him to the United States and Saudi Arabia and will see him travel on to Nigeria and Kenya.

During talks on Monday with King Mohammed, Hu said bilateral relations have progressed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 48 years ago.

"Measures should be taken to expand bilateral trade and partnership in the fields of science and technology, telecommunications, agriculture, oil and gas development, labour, project engineering and human resources training, and encourage two-way investment," Hu said.

Commodities that China exports to Morocco mainly include light industrial products, textiles, green tea, and mechanical and electronic products. It imports phosphates, chemical fertilizer and cobalt sand.

China has dispatched hundreds of medical workers to offer medical services to Morocco.

Responding to his Chinese guest, King Mohammed VI said his country is ready to strengthen co-operation with China in such fields as fishery, tourism, culture and infrastructure construction.

Both agreed to work together within the framework of the China-Africa Co-operation Forum.

Yesterday, Hu met with Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jetto in Rabat.

Zhu Weilie, director of the Institute of Middle East Affairs at the Shanghai International Studies University, describes Hu's visit to Morocco as "a trip of boosting traditional friendship."

"China has been attaching importance to its relations with African countries," Zhu said. "Hu's trip to Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya this week takes place in the context of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and African countries."

China unveiled a document on its policies on Africa in January, highlighting its determination to strengthen ties with African countries. Its investment in Africa has been on the rise in the past years, particularly in project, energy development and infrastructure construction.

According to the official statistics, trade volume between China and Africa increased from US$12 million in the 1950s to US$40 billion last year.

Source: China Daily