Algerian newspaper highlights FM Abdelkader Messahel’s Vietnam visit

The Vietnam visit by Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel from July 13-14 was given intensive coverage by Algeria’s daily Elmoudjahid.

Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel meets Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on July 13. (Photo: VGP)

The newspaper reported on the meetings between the Minister and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi, during which both sides discussed measures to boost bilateral ties and other issues of shared concern.

Messahel also conveyed a message from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to President Tran Dai Quang, which emphasises the long-standing friendship and solidarity shared by Vietnam and Algeria since the struggle for national independence.

The Algerian FM reiterated Algeria’s commitment to lifting bilateral ties to match their political and historical relations and underscored the importance of further tapping potentials of the two nations, especially in tourism and energy, to bolster their sustainable and mutually-beneficial partnership.

PM Phuc reaffirmed that Vietnam is ready to bolster all-around ties with Algeria for common benefits.

The newspaper also reported that during their meeting, FM Messahel and Deputy PM Minh highlighted the need to make a quality leap in bilateral economic and trade ties, especially via developing joint activities and realising bilateral cooperation agreements.

While discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, and issues regarding the fight against terrorism and organised crimes, they agreed to continue maintaining mutual consultation at global forums.

The daily also quoted the Algerian FM as saying in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency reporter in Algiers that his visit aims to develop bilateral ties and strengthen the tradition of regular consultation between the two countries.

The visit affords both sides a chance to review their bilateral relations, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment, he said.

Messahel described the visit as especially important to meeting the hope of both Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Tran Dai Quang to lift bilateral ties to a greater height that matches the aspirations of the two peoples.

According to the minister, while bilateral political ties are excellent, there is much to do with the economic cooperation, as two-way trade stood at just USD 360 million in 2017, mostly Vietnam’s exports to Algeria. Only one Vietnamese company - the oil and gas group PetroVietnam - is doing business in the African country.

For this reason, he called for materialising commitments at the 11^th meeting of the Vietnam-Algeria Inter-Governmental Meeting slated for November 2017, and creating more favourable conditions for enhanced ties, particularly in trade and investment./.

VNF/VNA