Chinese President Xi Jinping and Moroccan King Mohammed VI exchanged congratulations on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Morocco.

In his congratulatory message to the Moroccan king, Xi said that Morocco was among the first African countries that established diplomatic relations with China, and their bilateral relations have been growing steadily over the past 60 years after the two countries cemented diplomatic ties.

Xi said that he is very satisfied that China-Morocco relations have developed rapidly and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been very fruitful after the two countries established a strategic partnership.

Xi said that he greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to make efforts together with the Moroccan king to consolidate the political mutual trust between the two countries, strengthen bilateral cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road," jointly implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and continue to promote the China-Morocco strategic partnership.

In his congratulatory message delivered to Xi, Moroccan King Mohammed VI said he was satisfied with the smooth development of Morocco-China relations over the past 60 years, saying that the two countries have always enjoyed mutual understanding and trust in each other and bilateral trade cooperation has kept growing rapidly.

The king said that Morocco is willing to actively participate in the construction of "the Belt and Road," supports the cooperation initiatives proposed by China within the framework of the FOCAC, and constantly advances China-Morocco as well as China-Africa cooperation.

Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said in his message that the Chinese side greatly values the development of China-Morocco relations and is willing to work together with the Moroccan government to continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, actively implement the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the FOCAC, and strengthen all kinds of cooperation under the framework of co-building "the Belt and Road" to bring more benefits to the two countries and the two peoples.

Othmani said in his message that Morocco is willing to continue to strengthen the traditional friendship between Morocco and China, enhance bilateral pragmatic cooperation and continue to advance the relations between the two countries.