Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian held talks here Monday with
Abderrahmane Sbai, minister delegate in charge of administration of
national defense in the prime minister's office of Morocco.
Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a
state councilor, said that Morocco is one of the first African
countries to forge diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of
China.
Chi said that the two countries have maintained good relations and
fruitful cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields
since they established diplomatic relations more than 40 years
ago.
He
said that the two countries' armed forces have also had gratifying
contact and cooperation.
Chi said that Sbai's visit will add an important page to the
history of the exchanges of the two countries' armed forces.
Chi thanked the Moroccan government for its adherence to the
One-China stance and its support to China on the human rights
issue.
Sbai said that the relationship between the two countries’ armed
forces is an important part of the state-to-state relations, and
his current visit is to carry out the consensus reached by the
heads of state of the two countries to continue to develop friendly
relations of cooperation between the two countries.
He
said he hoped to learn more about China and the Chinese armed
forces in order to push forward the friendly relations between the
two countries and between their armed forces.
Prior to the talks, Chi hosted a welcoming ceremony for Sbai.
(Xinhua News Agency 06/18/2001)