RABAT, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan King Mohammed VI on Tuesday called on the government to take measures to promote development in rural areas.

Such measures could be taken through "income-generating activities, employment opportunities, faster access to basic social services, in addition to school enrollment and initiatives to combat poverty and vulnerability," the king said in a speech to the nation on Tuesday night on the anniversary of the Revolution for Independence.

He also called on the government to make the implementation of advanced regionalization and administrative devolution a priority in order to address the new challenges.