On January 3, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Kaid Slimane Lahcene, Algerian Ambassador to China, at the CPAFFC. The two sides held an in-depth discussion on issues of mutual interest, including China-Algeria relations and people-to-people exchanges.
Extending his New Year greetings to Lahcene, Yang emphasized the long-standing and profound traditional friendship between China and Algeria. He noted that Algeria played a pivotal role in securing the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat at the United Nations in 1971. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958, the bilateral relationship has remained robust and stable, with practical cooperation yielding fruitful outcomes. Yang highlighted that China places great importance on its relations with Algeria. The CPAFFC is committed to working with the Embassy of Algeria in China to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship, in alignment with the shared vision of the leaders of the two countries, thereby further enriching the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Algeria.
Ambassador Lahcene conveyed that China was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Algerian provisional government. He acknowledged the remarkable achievements made by China in recent years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, noting that these accomplishments serve as an example for countries in the Global South. The Algerian side deeply values these successes and takes great pride in them. In 2014, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership. Cooperation between the two nations has since flourished, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, encompassing a broad range of sectors. The Embassy of Algeria in China looks forward to further collaboration with the CPAFFC to enhance the friendly relations between the two peoples.
Ji Yongjun, Director-General of the CPAFFC Department of Asian and African Affairs, also attended the meeting.
