Vietnam - Algeria upgrade relations to Strategic Partnership

Photo caption — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Sifi Ghrieb. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

At the talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his pleasure to visit Algeria in the historic month of November, the beginning of the Algerian people's resistance war for independence (November 1, 1954), and thanked the warm and respectful welcome from the Prime Minister himself, the Government and people of Algeria.

Affirming that after more than 6 decades of friendly cooperation, Vietnam always remembers Algeria's support and assistance for the past struggle for national liberation and in Vietnam's current national construction and development, the Prime Minister expressed his emotion and pride at the special affection that the Algerian people have for Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh when his name was given to two major avenues in the capital Algiers and Oran province.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the regards and congratulations of General Secretary To Lam and Vietnamese leaders to the newly-appointed Prime Minister.

Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb warmly welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, praised President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic history of the Vietnamese people, affirmed that Vietnam is a source of inspiration for the Algerian people's independence revolution; and emphasized that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit is a visit that will shape the relationship between the two countries in the coming time.

The two Prime Ministers were moved to share their pride in the past struggle for independence, which served as role models and inspiration for revolutionary movements around the world, and was also the foundation for strengthening bilateral relations to overcome all difficulties and challenges. The two leaders emphasized the historical and present connection, the solidarity in the past, present and forever in the future, which is the foundation for building two strong countries.

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb expressed his delight at the strong developments in bilateral relations in various fields, meeting the requirements and aspirations of the leaders and people of the two countries. With the exceptional relationship between the two countries, based on similarities and complementarities, economic and trade cooperation and the business communities of the two countries are facing wide-open opportunities and Algeria is ready to create the most favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises and serve as a gateway to strengthen economic cooperation with Africa.

At the talks, the two sides informed each other about the situation in each country and discussed specific directions and measures to promote the traditional relationship and friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria in the coming time, as well as discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern.

The Algerian Prime Minister affirmed the determination of the Algerian Government, under the direction of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to maintain and further promote the traditional relationship and friendly cooperation between the two countries, which were nurtured from the history of the two peoples' shared struggle for independence and freedom.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Algeria on its great achievements in building a “New Algeria” with comprehensive economic, cultural and social development, and an increasingly important position and role in the international arena, and emphasized that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and solidarity, and close brotherly ties between the two countries.

In that spirit, the two sides agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, affirming that they will continue to promote and exchange delegations at high and all levels to consolidate the political foundation and mutual understanding as well as expand cooperation in many other fields through existing cooperation mechanisms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made proposals to promote and deepen bilateral relations; emphasizing that, in the current context, the two countries need to “unite for strength – cooperate for benefits – dialogue for trust” and with the motto “listen together, understand together, believe together, act together, develop together”, to create a breakthrough in bilateral relations.

In that spirit, the Prime Minister suggested that the two sides coordinate to prioritize the implementation of groups of solutions: The two sides need to further tighten political trust, increase delegation exchanges and give priority to each other in each country's foreign policy; Algeria continues to pay attention to and support the Vietnam National Energy Industry Group (PVN) to expand investment and operate stably and effectively, contributing more positively to the development of Algeria, being a symbol of success for bilateral cooperation; Promote investment cooperation, open the two countries' markets to each other's strengths, increase trade exchange, ensure a balance of interests of the two countries, in which Algeria supports Vietnamese enterprises to participate in digital transformation projects, and enterprises of the two countries cooperate in the telecommunications sector.

Along with that, promoting cooperation in defense and security is a new pillar in cooperation between the two countries, participating in each other's defense exhibitions, cyber security cooperation; Strengthening cooperation in agriculture; The two sides continue to organize many cultural exchange activities, educating about historical traditions to honor the previous generation, further tightening the friendship, close solidarity, increasing mutual understanding between the young generation and people of the two countries, in which Algeria hopes to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community living in Algeria.

The Prime Minister also proposed that the two sides actively establish subcommittees for cooperation in science and technology, digital transformation, healthcare, education and training, labor cooperation and other specialized fields; create conditions for businesses of the two countries to actively cooperate in important fields through specific, practical and effective programs and projects; and request Algeria to support Vietnam in promoting cooperation with regional organizations and member countries such as the African Union (AU) and the Arab League (AL).

The two sides agreed to continue to coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums of which Vietnam and Algeria are both members, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, etc., together promoting South-South cooperation, enhancing the role and position of developing countries, and strengthening cooperation between developing countries in science and technology, digital transformation and new development areas.

In the spirit of international solidarity and respect for the rule of law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam is ready to join the international community in peacekeeping efforts.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Algeria to support ASEAN's stance and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea on the basis of respecting the interests of coastal countries in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully invited Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb to soon pay an official visit to Vietnam. The Algerian Prime Minister agreed with the Prime Minister's proposals and pledged to direct relevant Algerian agencies to closely coordinate with Vietnam to effectively implement the above commitments and cooperation orientations.

Immediately after the talks, the two Prime Ministers adopted a Joint Statement upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and witnessed the signing of six cooperation documents, including: Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; Memorandum of Understanding in the field of housing and urban and city planning; Annex to the Protocol on comprehensive debt settlement between the two Governments; Agreement on educational cooperation; Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion of Algeria on promoting the initiation of negotiations on a pilot bilateral preferential trade agreement.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/viet-nam-algeria-nang-cap-quan-he-len-doi-tac-chien-luoc-20251119194853924.htm