Algerian President to Visit China Next Week

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (AFP)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (AFP)
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Algerian President to Visit China Next Week

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (AFP)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (AFP)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will visit China next week at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Algeria’s presidency has announced.

The presidency said in a brief statement on Thursday that the visit falls within the framework of boosting solid and deep-rooted relations and strengthening economic cooperation between the two friendly peoples of Algeria and China.

Tebboune's visit to China follows his trip to Russia last month, noting that the Algerian president had previously expressed his country's aspiration to join the BRICS group.

The visit was arranged last March when several technical meetings were held between Algerian and Chinese officials to prepare for the political and economic files discussed during the visit.

During his visit to China, the Algerian president aims to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed between Algeria and Beijing in 2014, especially after the tremendous developments in bilateral relations since that period.

Last November, the two countries signed their second five-year strategic partnership plan for 2022-2026.

Since 2018, Algeria has joined the executive plan for the joint implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the three-year cooperation plan in key fields 2022-2024 between Algeria and China.

Algeria wants to accelerate the implementation of several vital economic projects, with Chinese funding and partnership, including the project to exploit the Gara Djebilet iron deposit in the southwestern province of Tindouf.

A Chinese consortium of three companies signed a memorandum of understanding with an Algerian state company to exploit the iron deposit.

In March, Algeria and China signed a shareholder agreement to invest $7 billion to produce 5.4 million tons of fertilizer per year in the Algerian region of Tebessa.



Migrant Boat Sinks off Tunisia with at Least Eight Dead, 29 Rescued

Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
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Migrant Boat Sinks off Tunisia with at Least Eight Dead, 29 Rescued

Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)

Tunisia's coast guard on Monday recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank off the country's coast as it sailed towards Europe, a security official told Reuters, adding that 29 other people were rescued.

The boat sank in waters off the city of Abwabed near Sfax, a departure point often used by African migrants.

Search operations were underway for possible missing persons, said Houssem Eddine Jebabli, an official in the national guard.

Tunisia is grappling with an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a major departure point for both Tunisians and others in Africa seeking a better life in Europe.