Algerian President Inks Cooperation Agreements on Beijing Visit

The Lede: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune concluded his five-day visit to China on Friday. Algiers and Beijing reaffirmed their commitments to bilateral cooperation across various areas as Tebboune eyed BRI infrastructure projects and BRICS membership.

What We Know:

• The Algerian President traveled to China on Sunday with a group that included Algeria’s ministers of foreign affairs, finance, energy, housing, and commerce.
• Tebboune met with his counterpart, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Tuesday and the leaders signed 19 cooperation agreements along with a $36 billion pledge of investment by China. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the agreements cover industries including aviation, agriculture, energy, rail transportation, research, technology, telecommunications, sustainable urban development, trade, inspection, and quarantine.
• Additionally, Tebboune stated that Algeria was ready to play an ‘active part’ in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to become a member of the BRICS group, and to broadly deepen economic ties with China.
• Tebboune also visited the facilities of the electric vehicle producer BYD and the technology company Huawei in the southern city of Shenzhen as his last stop.

The Background: China and Algeria have enjoyed good relations for many decades. China assisted Algeria in gaining its independence from France in the early 1960s. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China has sent more than 3,500 medical personnel to Algeria in the last six decades after foreign medical personnel left the country following its independence. These medical personnel have treated over 27 million patients and delivered more than 2.7 million newborns. Algeria’s imports of goods from China has increased from $400 million in 2003 to $8 billion in 2022. China has made significant investments in Algerian transportation and logistics infrastructure such as the El Hamdania Sea Port Project in Cherchell and the Thenia-Bordj Bou Arreridj Double Rail Line. The Algerian president has also visited Russia recently.

Likely Outcomes:

• Algeria has already worked with China on many infrastructure development projects and will likely strengthen areas of focus, particularly in the provision of oil and gas to China, renewable energy, and healthcare. The North African country will also continue to work with China and Russia in the military and security areas as both countries have supplied military equipment to Algeria.
• BRICS will be holding a summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in August, where the leaders from the bloc will be discussing new applications for prospective members. Algeria’s relations with China and Russia bode well for future interactions with the BRICS bloc. These, and the many other areas of cooperation with China and Russia, place Algeria at a distance from the orbit of the U.S. and its allies.

Quotables:

"We believe Algeria is a window into Europe and Africa. If the technology of this set of hybrid engines, including production, is moved to Algeria, it may also be a good choice and there'd be huge market of opportunities to explore." – Abdelmadjid Tebboune, president of Algeria

“The visits to China and Russia reflect Algeria's efforts to strengthen its ties with two of its key allies and two major global players. Algeria's application for BRICS membership, along with its efforts to improve its infrastructure, boost trade and diversify its economy, signals some determination to position itself as a key player in the international arena.” – Ali Metwally, economist and risk analyst specializing in the Middle East and North Africa at Al-Monitor, Economist Intelligence, and Infospectrum

“These collaborations not only contribute to Algeria's energy sector but also foster technological exchanges and knowledge-sharing between the two countries. With China's significant involvement in Algeria's infrastructure development, exemplified by projects like the El Hamdania Centre port project in the Cherchell region, Shanghai expects Algeria to reciprocate by boosting its oil and gas exports to China." – Alissa Pavia, associate director of the Atlantic Council's North Africa Program

Good Reads:

Algeria, China sign 19 agreements during Tebboune's visit, including energy, technology (Al-Monitor)

China is set to invest $36 billion in some of Algeria's key economic sectors (Business Insider Africa)

China eyes Algerian oil and gas as it receives Tebboune in Beijing (Al-Monitor)

Deepening Cooperation: Algerian president wraps up his China visit in Shenzhen (CGTN)