(Last Update: 2003/08/25)

1. Political Relations

China and Morocco established diplomatic relations on Nov.1958. Over the past 43 years the political relations between China and Morocco has been developing steadily and smoothly. The two countries share the close or similar views on many international issues. Morocco supports China's stand on Taiwan, human rights and other issues, speaks highly of China's resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong according to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and admires China's successful reform and open policy. Morocco is willing to further its relations with China. In 1996, China and Morocco signed the Agreement on Holding Regular Political Consultation between the two Foreign Ministries.

Exchange of major visits included:

China: Premier Zhou Enlai (1963), Premier Zhao Ziyang (1982), President Yang Shangkun (1992), Premier Li Peng (1995), President Jiang Zemin(1999), In August 2002, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited Morocco.

Morocco: brother of King Hassan II Abdallah(1964), Prime Minister Maati Bouabid(1982), Speaker of Parliament Othmane(1986), Princess Lalla Meriem(daughter of King Hassan II) and her husband(1987), Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed(1991), Prime Minister Youssoufi (1998), In February 2002, Moroccan King Mohammed the Sixth visited China.

Exchange of Major visits in 2000 were: Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC Tian Jiyuan, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Defence Minister Chi Haotian, State Councilor Luo Gan, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Li Guixian and Vice Foreign Minister Ji Peiding. Minister of Economical and Financial Affairs and Tourism ????? attended the Beijing 2000 Ministerial Conference of the China and African Forum of Cooperation at the head of the Moroccan governmental delegation.

2. Economic and Trade Relations and Economic and Technical Cooperation

The volume of trade between China and Morocco totaled 309.3 million US dollars in 1999 and 336 million US dollars in 2000, The volume of trade between China and Morocco in 2001 was US$384,000,000.

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

The two governments have set up a mixed committee on economy, trade and technology. In Jan, 2001, the 6th session of the mixed committee was held in Beijing.

In Oct, 2000, the Moroccan Bank for Foreign Trade set up an office in Beijing.

Economic Aid and Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

China has rendered Morocco certain economic aid since 1961. Mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Morocco was initiated in 1983. Presently China contracted projects in Morocco mainly concentrate on fishery cooperation.