ChinAfrica

Solid strategic relations

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lgerian President Abdelmadji­d Tebboune visited China on 17-21 July at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, receiving a warm welcome from the Chinese government and people.

The Chinese people often describe the China-Algeria bond as an enduring friendship deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Whenever the restoratio­n of China’s legitimate seat at the UN in 1971 is mentioned, the Chinese people would be reminded of the friendly name of Algeria, one of the countries that made the proposal and one of the two countries the proposal was named after in Chinese. During Algeria’s long struggle for national independen­ce, the Chinese people consistent­ly stood with the Algerian people, firmly supporting their just cause. The long history of mutual sympathy and support between the two countries during their struggles have forged what late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai called a “friendship cemented in adversity.”

President Tebboune’s state visit to China, the first visit to China by an Algerian head of state in 15 years, holds extraordin­ary significan­ce. It comes at the 65th anniversar­y of the establishm­ent of diplomatic relations between the two countries and marks the first meeting between the two presidents. The joint statement issued during the visit outlines the blueprint for the future developmen­t of bilateral relations, reaffirming strong support to each other. Witnessed by the two heads of state, the two sides signed bilateral cooperatio­n agreements in agricultur­e, transporta­tion, technology and many other areas. This visit further deepened the comprehens­ive strategic partnershi­p between the two countries.

Sixty-five years ago, the common cause of striving for national independen­ce and liberation against imperialis­m and colonialis­m brought China and Algeria together. Even before establishi­ng diplomatic ties, the Chinese government unequivoca­lly supported Algeria’s just cause during its revolution for independen­ce. China was the first non-Arab country to recognise the temporary Algerian government.

After establishi­ng diplomatic relations, Algeria, as mentioned above, made special contributi­ons alongside other developing countries to restoring China’s lawful seat in the UN. In 2004, the two countries announced

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