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Algerian PM's China visit to boost bilateral partnership

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal will on Tuesday kick off his three-day visit to China to boost bilateral relations.

According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Sellal will head a large delegation of government officials and members of the country's business community.

The visit follows the 7th session of the Algerian-Chinese Joint Cooperation Commission, held earlier this month in capital Algiers.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Sellal will next week become the first Algerian head of government to visit China since the north African country won independence in 1962.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang are expected to meet with Sellal. The two sides will exchange views on enhancing bilateral partnership as well as on international and regional issues, Hong Lei, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, told a daily news briefing.

Following Beijing, Sellal will also visit Shanghai.

Hong hailed Algeria's contribution in helping China resume its legitimate seat at the United Nations in 1971.

China was a founding member of the United Nations. However, after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), its seat was occupied by Taiwanese authorities backed by the United States.

The UN General Assembly eventually passed a resolution, sponsored by Algeria and 22 other countries, to restore the rights of the PRC and expel Taiwan.

Hong said China-Algeria relations have developed rapidly in recent years, witnessing increased political trust, fruitful practical cooperation and close coordination in international affairs.

Right now, there are 790 Chinese companies operating in Algeria in the fields of infrastructure, as well as energy and trade.

The Chinese companies have also won contracts to build sections of the country's mega east-west highway, the Great Mosque of Algiers, and the Algiers Opera.

In 2014, China topped the list of the largest supplier of Algeria with 8.2 billion U.S. dollars. China entered Algerian market a decade ago, and gradually became a rival of France, the former largest supplier for decades.

China exceeded France for the first time in 2013 in non-oil trade worth more than 8 billion dollars.

The two countries raised the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in February, 2014, the first of its kind among China's relationship with Arab countries. Endit