Algeria, China pay heed to expansion of ties, take a look at Algerian Chinese privileged relations
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS – The Minister of Public Works, Hydraulics and Basic Infrastructure, Lakhdar Rekhroukh, received, on Tuesday, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Li Jian, with whom he discussed the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in the field of public works, hydraulics and basic infrastructure, a statement from the ministry said.
During the meeting which took place at the headquarters of the ministry at the request of the Chinese ambassador, the two parties reviewed “the state of cooperation relations between the two countries, qualified as excellent with regard to the effective partnership between Algeria and China, “added the communiqué.
Mr. Rekhroukh said he was “satisfied with the positive contribution of Chinese economic operators to the sector”, inviting Chinese investors and businessmen to “invest more in Algeria, thanks to the advantages offered by the new law on investment, “concluded the press release.
Sneak peek into Algerian Chinese relations:
Algeria and China have traditionally strong relations, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2018. The bilateral cooperation between both countries in various fields has stood the test of time and has shown a strong momentum for further growth.
China and Algeria have all along offered mutual sympathy, enjoyed mutual understanding and supported each other.
In the 1950s, China, to the best of its ability, provided political, economic and military support for Algeria’s liberation struggle against colonial rule, when China itself was experiencing a difficult time for its development.
Shortly after the Algerian interim government was formed in September 1958, China immediately recognized it, becoming the first non-Arab country to grant diplomatic recognition to the government. Later on, China and the North African country established full diplomatic ties on Dec. 20 that year.
Between 1958 and 1962, China aided the National Liberation Army (NLA) with weapons and funding. Soon after Algeria declared independence, China dispatched a medical team to Algeria in April 1963. The medical team was also the first one China had sent to an African country. Since then, China has sent a total of 21 batches of medical staff to Algeria, numbering more than 2,800 Chinese medical personnel.
The local people were impressed by the professional dedication on the part of the Chinese doctors who have made their due contributions to Algeria’s healthcare development.
Between 1963 and 1975, China signed about twenty agreements covering many areas, such as; economic and technical cooperation, health, cultural cooperation, communication, scientific and military cooperation.
In May 2003, a strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit northern Algeria, causing heavy casualties and property losses. China, shortly after the disaster, dispatched a rescue team to Algeria.
Algeria, in the early 1970s, played an important role in the efforts to restore China’s legitimate seat in the United Nations, as a major co-sponsor country for the draft resolution calling for the restoration of all China’s legitimate rights in the world body. Subsequently, Algeria sponsored, with Albania, resolution 2758, the vote of which allowed China to sit on the UN Security Council. The two countries have remained faithful to their tradition of mutual support on issues affecting their vital interests and major concerns. They have strengthened their consultation and coordination on regional and international issues, in order to jointly preserve peace and security, and to uphold equity and justice.
For a long period of time, there have been frequent exchanges of visits between the two countries’ top leaders, who have maintained close contact with each other.
At the invitation of his Algerian counterpart, the late Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to Algeria in February 2004, during which the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common concern, signed several accords on boosting bilateral cooperation and announced the establishment of the China-Algeria strategic cooperation.
In November 2006, the late Bouteflika paid a state visit to China and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The two presidents signed a communique on promoting the strategic cooperative ties.
The good political ties between the two countries have given a strong impetus to bilateral exchanges and cooperation in economy and trade and other fields.
Economic and commercial cooperation, as well as human and cultural exchanges have continued to develop. Indeed, since the early 2000s, the volume of trade has increased from less than 200 million dollars to 9.1 billion dollars in 2018.
Algeria has become China’s leading market in the Maghreb, and China, on its part, has been the leading supplier since 2013, ahead of France. During 2020, China had a large net trade with Algeria in the exports of Machines ($1.83B), Textiles ($924M), and Metals ($814M). During 2020, Algeria had a large net trade with China in the exports of Mineral Products ($869M), Textiles ($13.5M), and Metals ($3.57M).
There are several large Chinese enterprises which are currently expanding business in Algeria, ranging from road and housing construction, telecommunications and energy, to water resources and transportation.
In 2014, the Sino-Algerian bilateral relationship was elevated to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” the first of its kind in the Sino-Arab world. Chinese top political advisor, Yu Zhengsheng, stated the goals of this partnership were to “enhance exchanges at all levels, cement political mutual trust and promote pragmatic cooperation” between the two nations. In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed similar rhetoric, pledging to help promote further development of the partnership and continue the trend towards closer diplomatic ties.
In November 2022, Algeria-China inked the 2nd five-year comprehensive strategic cooperation plan 2022-2026 to all-out bilateral relations.
The Sheraton Hotel, built by a Chinese company, is now a major landmark in the capital city, while the expressway under construction that will link Algeria’s east and west will also become a key strategic artery for the North African countries and the littoral states of the Mediterranean Sea.
In 2019, and after seven years of construction and over $1 billion in expenses, China finalized the Great Mosque of Algiers. The Great Mosque of Algiers, or Djamaa El Djazair, sits on an area of 400,000 square meters and has a 265 meter (870 feet) minaret that houses observation decks. The compound’s domed sanctuary and outside courtyard overlooking the Bay of Algiers can house up to 120,000 worshippers and has an underground parking space with a capacity of 7,000 cars.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Algeria sent urgent medical aid to Beijing in February 2020. In March 2020, China started to deliver tons of medical equipment to Algeria including respirators, medical protective clothes and screening kits. It also materialized the first cooperation project in the field of vaccine production in Algeria. In February 2021, the Chinese government donated 200,000 doses of the SINOPHARM vaccine to Algeria, followed by nearly 3.2 million doses of the SINOVAC vaccine, through “COVAX”. The Chinese company SINOVAC BIOTECH has signed a contract with Algeria for 15 million doses of vaccines and the first dose of vaccine manufactured in Constantine has left the production lines. The RAYANOX medical oxygen production unit produced its first liter of oxygen in Oran in September 2021.
China reacts to Algeria’s willingness to join BRICS group:
The Chinese Foreign Minister, State Counselor Wang Yi reacted, in New York, to Algeria’s willingness to join the BRICS group, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product.
Following the footsteps of Russia, the Chinese Foreign Minister, State Counselor Wang Yi announced, during a meeting with Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, held as part of their participation in the work of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, that his country welcomed Algeria’s willingness to join the BRICS group, as tweeted by the Chinese Embassy in Algeria.
Noting that President Tebboune expressed the North African country’s willingness to join the BRICS group, which includes the world’s largest economies outside the Western system, namely; Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa.
