Morocco hopes to further develop trade relations with China, Morocco's Minister of External Commerce Mustapha Mechahouri said Tuesday.

Morocco, which is trying to diversify its trade partners, should value its trade relations with China, one of the most important trade partners in the world, Mechahouri said before the parliament.

Expanded bilateral trade relations will also facilitate Moroccan products' entry into the Chinese market, the minister added.

To promote bilateral trade relations and create favorable an environment for investment, a trade council between the two countries was set up in 2001, according to Mechahouri.

The minister believed Chinese goods' entry into the Moroccan market is an embodiment of economic globalization, and will not, nor should be subject to bias in any forms.

Mechahouri, who visited China in July this year, said Chinese enterprises are intensely interested in Morocco and willing to invest or open businesses in this country.

Moroccan enterprises should also take an more active approach to exploring the vast Chinese market, the minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004)