Algerian PM flies to Beijing for China-Africa summit

ALGIERS - Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia has flown to Beijing to attend the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) slated for Sept 3-4, APS news agency reported.

Ouyahia, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel, will represent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the summit.

China has remained Algeria's largest trading partner since 2013.

In 2017, China's exports to Algeria hit $8.3 billion, representing 18.1 percent of the North African country's total imports, which stood at $45.95 billion.

China and Algeria raised their bilateral relations to the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Algerian diplomatic relations.