I. Political Relations

China and Algeria have traditional and friendly relations When the Algerian interim-government was formed in Sept. 1958. China immediately gave it recognition and established full diplomatic relations with Algeria on Dec. 20. Since Algeria won independence in 1962, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Algeria have developed comprehensively in the political, economic, cultural, health and military fields. Algeria once made significant contributions to restoring China's legitimate seat in the United Nations as one of the co-sponsors (the other being Albania). In April 1997, the Foreign Ministries of the two countries signed the Agreement on Holding Regular Political Consultations. Algeria attaches great importance to developing relations with China.

Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Algeria: Zheng Aquan

Address of the Chinese Embassy: 34, Boulevard Des Martyrs, Alger

Algeria ambassador to China: Ahmed Amine Kherbi

Address of the Algerian Embassy: 7, Sanlitun Road, Beijing.

Major exchanges of visits include:

China: Premier Zhou Enlai (1963, 1965), Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Chen Yi (1963,1964), Premier Zhao Ziyang (1982), State Councilors and Foreign Ministers Wu Xueqian (1987) and Qian Qichen (1990), Vice Premier Jiang Chunyun (1997), Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen (1998), and President Jiang Zemin (1999) visited Algeria respectively. In 2001, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, visited Algeria. In 2002, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited Algeria.

Algeria: Chairman Houari Boumedienne (1974), President Chadli Ben Djedid (1982), President Liamine Zeroual (1996), Premier of Interim-Government Ferhat Abbas (1960), Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem (1960), Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1971), and Foreign Minister Mohamed Salah Dembri (1994) visited China respectively.

In Oct. 2000, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, as a special guest of honor, attended the Beijing 2000 Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and following the Conference paid a state visit to China and signed a joint communique together with President Jiang Zemin.

II. Economic and Trade Relations and Economic and Technical Cooperation

The bilateral trade between China and Algeria developed fairly quickly in the early 1980s. In 1982, the bilateral trade volume reached US$170 million. In 2000, the trade volume between China and Algeria totaled US$198.85 million. The bilateral trade volume between China and Algeria in 2001 was US$292 million. Cooperation of contracted projects between China and Algeria began in 1980, including building projects in agriculture, water conservancy, hotels and restaurants etc.

The Mixed Economic, Trade and Technological Committee between the Chinese and Algerian governments have held four sessions up until now.

III. Cooperation in Culture, Science & Technology, and Education, etc.

China began to dispatch medical teams to Algeria in 1963 and there have been so far over 2,200 people ever working there. In Feb. 1998, Minister of Public Health Chen Minzhang visited Algeria and signed the Agreement on Medical and Health Cooperation Between Chinese and Algerian Government. China and Algeria have altogether signed nearly 20 exchange programs and cooperation agreements on culture, education, sports and the press. Currently, there are 23 Algerian students studying in China.

(Chinese Foreign Ministry January 18, 2004)