Algeria, China strengthen strategic partnership

You can walk along Beijing Avenue and not be in any part of China. It is in Algiers, capital of Algeria, and is one of main streets in the city with many official buildings nearby, including the Foreign Ministry office building and the national TV station.

The street was named after China's capital to commemorate the strong support Chinese people have extended to Algeria's liberation, said Djamel-Eddine Grine, ambassador of Algeria to China.

"Based on mutual respect and solidarity, our two nations have long enjoyed a close friendship, which has stood the test of time," Grine noted.

Among the handful of earliest nations that recognized Algeria's independence, China announced its acknowledgement of the country in September 1958, just three days after the interim Algerian government was founded, and on December 20 of that year established officially diplomatic relations.

Algeria contributed significantly to China's restoring its legitimate seat in the United Nations as a co-sponsor of the motion in the 1970s.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, then the Foreign Affairs Minister, played an active role, Grine added.

A joint commission was established in 1982 to facilitate bilateral economic, commercial and technological cooperation. Since then, six rounds have been held. The last session took place in June 2007.

Under the framework, Algeria and China have intensified exchange and expanded cooperation, Grine said.

Especially since Bouteflika was elected president in 1999, high-level visits of the two governments have further enhanced the bilateral ties, said Grine.

After a visit of former President Jiang Zemin to Algeria in 1999, Algerian President attended the ministerial conference of the Sino-African forum held in Beijing in 2000 as a guest of honor and conducted "a friendship and work visit" to China.

In 2004, President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to Algeria during his first trip to Africa and exchanged views on bilateral and international issues of common concern with his Algerian counterpart Bouteflika.

The two leaders announced the establishment of Algeria-China strategic relations and signed several bilateral agreements in a bid to promote collaboration.

As China increasingly emphasizes cooperation with Africa, Algeria-China relations have grown even closer.

For the Sino-African Forum Summit held in Beijing in 2006, Bouteflika paid a three-day state visit to China.

The two leaders signed a joint declaration on development of strategic partnership and cooperation as well as other agreements in a variety of fields.

The Algerian president attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games held in Beijing in August to express his support of China's hosting the event.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, both chose Algeria as the first stop when starting official visits to African countries this year.

Fruitful cooperation

Increased visits between leaders and the establishment of a strategic partnership have spurred cooperation development in various fields.

Bilateral trade was just $292 million in 2001, which soared to $3.83 billion in 2007, an 83 percent year-on-year increase, comprised of $2.69 billion in Chinese exports to Algeria and $1.14 billion in imports, ranking China the third export destination of Algeria, just behind France and Italy.

The trade volume rose to $3.77 billion in the first 10 months of this year and is expected to hit a record $4 billion by year's end, according to Ambassador Grine.

Along with rapidly growing trade, an increasing number of Chinese companies have begun to explore business opportunities in Algeria.

More than 40 large Chinese companies with several thousands staff members now doing business in Algeria, in sectors ranging from infrastructure, housing construction, telecommunications, hydro projects, mining and energy to transportation.

Its airport and the Sheraton Hotel in Algiers, both developed by Chinese builders, have become landmarks of the capital, as another major Chinese-developed project - the east-west expressway - is under construction.

The 1,216 km expressway that links the east to the west of Algeria will be an arterial highway in northern coastal Africa. It is planned for completion next year.

A team established by CITIC Group and China Railway Construction Corp won the bid for the central and western legs of the expressway in a fierce worldwide competition against strong rivals.

With $6.25 billion in contract value, the project is one of the biggest of its kind that Chinese contractors have won in the international construction market.

As a part of the contract, a group of Algerian engineers are receiving 40 days of training in China. Another 70 Algerian trainees finished their 38-day program in expressway operation and management in February.

Chinese builders' participation in Algeria's infrastructure construction helps both parties, the ambassador stressed.

"Meanwhile, their involvement in local construction also contributes to our nation's sustained development and sows the seeds of friendship between the two peoples," he added.

In addition, Grine also mentioned the prospects of energy cooperation between the two nations.

Petroleum and natural gas are the mainstays of Algeria's economy.

With rich resources yet to be developed, the country plans to invest $45.5 billion in energy sector, Xinhuanet cited Resources and Mining Minister Chakib Khelil as saying.

Chinese State-owned oil giants Sinopec and CNPC have begun exploration in the oil-rich land.

With that complementary fit, Algeria and China have much more space for improvement in energy cooperation, Grine said.

Lasting amity

Grine praised the medical aid the Chinese government has extended to his nation.

Since the first Chinese medical group set off to Algeria in 1963, which was also the first medical team that China sent to Africa, 21 medical groups totaling more than 2,800 people have worked in Algeria over the past decades.

The medical staff worked in the places where they were most needed and provided medical services to locals, Grine said.

Moreover, China sent its first overseas rescue team to Algeria in 2003, when it was hit by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake, and received Algeria's help in the devastated Sichuan area in May.

In addition, educational and cultural exchanges also promote understanding of the two peoples, Grine said.

At present, many Algerian students are studying in China, 76 of whom are on government-sponsored scholarships, Grine said.

Meanwhile, the Confucius Institute is planning to open in Algeria to promote Chinese culture, he added.

This year "full of challenges and hopes" marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Both held cultural weeks to celebrate the historic moment, with the Chinese event held in Algeria last July and Algeria's in China between October and November.

Both nations plan to launch direct flight services mid next year.

Grine said "the important thing for both of our countries is to evaluate what we have achieved, consider what the common target for our further development will be, and define how our strategic partnership and business cooperation can be expanded".

(China Daily 12/19/2008 page6)