Nouakchott — Tunisia and Mauritania signed six co-operation agreements in the economic, educational and scientific fields as the two-day works of the high joint committee meeting wrapped up Saturday in Nouakchott.

Co-chairing the 16th session of the Tunisian Mauritanian High Joint Committee, Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and Mauritanian Prime Minister Moulay Ould Mohamed Laghdhaf, emphasised the commitment to strengthen bilateral co-operation and activate the Maghreb process.

The agreements signed Saturday by the two countries' foreign ministers involve the areas of industry, youth employment, veterinary sector, research and agricultural extension, religious affairs and weather and environmental observation.

Chairing the closure of the joint committee works, the two countries' prime ministers said the signed agreements will certainly give a fresh impetus to bilateral co-operation which has been stagnant, since the joint committee has not met since 2008.

He called on businessmen and investors to step up bilateral meetings and implement joint projects in all freedom in each country.

Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said economic and trade co-operation between Tunisia and Mauritania "is still below the potentials available in both countries" and that "it was possible to obtain better results" in the various sectors of the economy, investment, education, technical co-operation and use of modern technology.

He called on the Maghreb countries to make the Arab Maghreb region a model of co-operation and energise the AMU institutions at the Maghreb Summit to be held next October. The aim is to lay down the foundations of a new stage on the way of Maghreb complementarity which is a strategic choice for all, he underlined.

Mauritanian Prime Minister Moulay Ould Mohamed Laghdhaf emphasised the need to "open a new page of partnership and strategic complementarity between the two countries in the areas of economy and investment."

"It is now a vital issue at a time when we are witnessing the proliferation of political and economic groupings and accelerated international changes at all levels," he noted.

He stressed Mauritanian's commitment to active the AMU process and its adherence to the idea of establishing the five freedoms advocated by Caretaker President Moncef Marzouki during his Maghreb tour.

The Tunisian delegation had talks with the Mauritanian President before leaving Nouakchott.

Led by the Interim Prime Minister, the delegation includes the ministers of foreign affairs and trade and handicrafts and the Minister in charge of Economic Issues as well as the Secretary of State for Arab and African Affairs.

The Tunisian delegation cut short its visit to Mauritania to head to Saudi Arabia and attend the funeral of the Saudi Crown Prince who died Saturday.