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Morocco, Portugal vow to consolidate bilateral ties

Xinhua, June 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Portuguese President Marcelo Duarte Rebelo de Sousa and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane said on Tuesday that they are determined to give new impetus to their bilateral ties.

"Our countries share historical ties dating back for centuries," visiting Portuguese president told the press following a meeting with Benkirane, adding that through his visit Portugal seeks to develop its relations with Morocco in all areas.

"Portuguese investors are increasingly interested in Morocco's business opportunities, especially in the fields of tourism and industry," said Rebelo de Sousa, stressing that his country is closely following Morocco's development in all fields.

The Moroccan prime minister said that bilateral economic cooperation does not live up to the two countries' historical ties and geographic proximity, underlining that his government is determined to give new impetus to relationship with Portugal.

The Portuguese president arrived on Monday in Morocco on an official visit to the North African Kingdom.

Moroccan King Mohammed VI welcomed the Portuguese president with an official ceremony, and both leaders held one-to-one talks.

Last April, the two countries agreed to bolster cooperation in the fields of security, energy, maritime transport, tourism, training and scientific research.

Energy cooperation appears to be the top priority of bilateral cooperation as both countries are currently working on setting up an undersea power link, the second Europe-Africa link.

Morocco is Portugal's currently primary trade partner in the Arab world and the second in Africa, following Angola which was a former colony of Portugal.

In 2015, Morocco's imports from Portugal increased by 18.5 percent while exports grew by 12.2 percent. Endit