Rabat — Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said, on Friday in Rabat, that Tunisia and Morocco are not competing rivals and called to boost complementarity and competitiveness of the two countries' economies in all fields.

"We should conquer together foreign markets and boost direct bilateral investments," Mr. Jebali said, at the opening of the Tunisian-Moroccan High Joint Committee's 17th session, held in Rabat.

The two countries' co-operation balance sheet is satisfactory, Mr. Jebali pointed out, calling for a broader integration and stronger solidarity, as part of "a renewed Maghreb" environment.

Tunisia is following with admiration the steps made by Morocco on the path of progress and development, Mr. Jebali added, voicing wish to make the most of the Moroccan expertise in the parliamentary and media fields.

The Prime Minister also suggested to develop an exchange of expertise in the fields higher education, scientific research, vocational training, culture, youth, sports, media, women, family and religious affairs.

New Tunisia is attached to finishing off the Arab Maghreb Union construction as a strategic choice, further said Mr. Jebali, reminding of Tunisia's unwavering support to the Palestinian cause, to boosting of the Mediterranean partnership and relations with the African countries.

For his part, Moroccan PM Abdelilah Benkirane voiced criticism of the level of the Tunisian-Moroccan relations, explaining that "after sixty years of independence, relations between the two countries did not reach the hoped-for political level," even though there is a true political will and all conditions exist for achieving this objective, he insisted.

He also called to set a mechanism to follow up closely the signed conventions, underlining the concordance of the two countries' views on the main international issues, particularly the Palestinian cause, the situation in Syria and the imperative to deepen relations with the African countries.

The Tunisian-Moroccan High Joint Committee's 17th session will be crowned by the adoption of the recommendations and measures on co-operation and economic exchanges submitted by the committee of experts.