The Communist Party of China (CPC) will step up cooperation with the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP)of Algeria, in an effort to boost bilateral relations, a senior CPC official said in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang Gang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks when he met with an Algerian delegation headed by Bouguerra Soltani, chairman of the MSP and Minister of State of Algeria.

"The visit of the delegation marks the establishment of the party-to-party relationship between the MSP and the CPC, and it will also give an impetus to state-to-state relations," Wang said.

He also said that state-to-state relations had been dynamic since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1958. "The strategic and cooperative relationship established in 2004 heralded a new stage for bilateral relations," Wang said.

"China and Algeria have witnessed strengthening political mutual trust, closer cooperation and coordination in international affairs in recent years," Wang said.

"The people of Algeria will never forget the aid and support they received from China in the period of Algeria's fighting for freedom and independence," Soltani said, "and the MSP is ready to enhance exchanges with the CPC and to advance bilateral relationship, under the framework of the bilateral strategic and cooperative relations."

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)