Roundup: Morocco, Jordan deepen bilateral partnership, express unified views on Mideast conflicts

RABAT, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian King Abdullah II wrapped up Thursday evening a worKing visit to Morocco during which bilateral ties have been deepened and unified positions were expressed regarding key regional issues.

Earlier on Thursday, King Abdullah II and the Moroccan King Mohammed VI held talks at the Casablanca Royal Palace.

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the Jordanian King's visit, Morocco and Jordan have decided to elevate their cooperation relations to the level of a "multidimensional strategic partnership."

The two countries decided to implement concrete projects in areas such as energy, agriculture and tourism.

Morocco's King gave announced the establishment of a vocational training center in Jordan in areas of Morocco's expertise in tourism, agro-industry, construction and water resources management.

The joint statement noted that a Moroccan economic mission would visit Jordan to explore investment and cooperation opportunities between the private sectors of the two countries.

The two Kings reaffirmed their support to the two-state solution for settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They reiterated "full support to the Palestinian people for the recovery of all their legitimate rights and the establishment of independent Palestinian State, within the borders set in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

The two leaders also reaffirmed rejection of all "unilateral measures taken by Israel, as an occupying force, to change the legal and historical status quo and the demographic situation, as well as the spiritual and historical character of East Jerusalem."

They deemed as their countries' "absolute priority" to defend Jerusalem and its sacred sites and their preservation against all attempts to alter their legal, historical and political status and their Muslim and Christian religious and civilizational character.

In addition, the two sides described Israel's decision to annex the occupied Golan Heights as "illegal and invalid and constitutes a violation of the resolutions of international legitimacy."

As for the Syrian issue, they stressed the need to end the Syrian crisis through a political solution which preserves the unity and cohesion of the country, calling for an effective Arab role and concerted efforts to reach this endeavor.

With regard to Iraq, the two leaders hailed the victory achieved by this country against the Islamic State group, affirming that Jordan and Morocco stand by Iraq in the process of reconstruction and stability.

The visit to Morocco is the first stop in Jordanian King's international tour that will bring him also to Tunisia, Italy and France.