Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is making the first visit by an Algerian head of state to Beijing in 17 years, met the Chinese president on Tuesday. “China is ready to work with Algeria to strengthen strategic communications, deepen exchanges and cooperation,” Xi Jinping said.
The two countries signed on this occasion 19 agreements in multiple fields and reaffirmed their will to strengthen a partnership established for more than 60 years. To show the importance of this trip, Algeria sent no less than ten ministers alongside A. Tebboune. Following an interview extended to delegations, the Algerian president and the Chinese head of state signed 19 memoranda of understanding in sectors such as trade, rail transport or agriculture. Other agreements are anticipated before the end of this five-day trip, including the bosses of large companies such as Mobilis or Sonatrach.
The two countries thus confirm their special ties. Beijing is Algiers’ leading trading partner with 9.4 billion dollars reached annually in January, or +60% in one year. A. Tebboune intends to make further progress in Chinese investments, in particular with the deep-water port project of El Hamdania. A place that Algiers wishes to integrate into the Chinese initiative of the “new silk roads”, to which the country joined in 2018.
In addition to the economy, Algiers wants diplomatic support from China in its integration into all of the BRICS. Algeria is a candidate to join this organization of emerging countries which also includes Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa. The answer will be given in August at the Johannesburg summit. After Moscow, A. Tebboune needs Beijing to consolidate his file, especially since there is talk of a possible opposition from India.
