President Hu Jintao arrived in Algeria Tuesday, aiming at securing further economic cooperation and exploring energy pacts as well as bolstering diplomatic ties with the influential African nation.  

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika welcomed the Chinese leader at Algiers airport yesterday afternoon local time.

This important visit, taking place following the state visit paid by President Bouteflika to China in October 2000, will contribute to "reinforcing friendship and cooperative ties between Algeria and China to help the countries realize their potential in this regard," an official source of Algeria stressed on the eve of Hu's visit.

In his written statement released upon his arrival, Hu said that to consolidate the friendly ties and mutual partnership in all fields between the two countries is in conformity with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

In Algeria, the last leg of Hu's current visit abroad which also has taken the leader to France, Egypt and Gabon, several cooperative agreements in different fields will be signed during this visit, according to the Chinese embassy here.

The agreements include a framework document on mineral resources exploration, economic and technological partnership, China's preferential loans to Algeria and a memorandum on an economic pact between small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The key part of the two-day trip will be Hu's talks with Bouteflika, which are scheduled to be held early this morning Beijing time.

Earlier in Gabon, Hu and his Gabonese counterpart Omar Bongo pledged to push China-Gabon relations to a new high.

In a communique signed there on Tuesday, the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties since the two countries forged diplomatic relations three decades ago.

They vowed to maintain the exchange of high-level visits between China and Gabon, step up teamwork in various fields and increase consultations on African and international affairs.

Gabon voiced support for China's reunification. It reiterated that there is only one China in the world, with the government of the People's Republic of China being the sole legitimate government representing China as a whole and Taiwan being an inalienable part of China.

Both sides said that they will boost trade and investment, continue to support alliances between enterprises and implementation of signed cooperative agreements.

They said partnerships will be focused on agriculture, infrastructure construction, exploitation of resources and personnel training. China reaffirmed its willingness to lend support toward Gabon's economic and social development.

(China Daily February 4, 2004)