Algeria and South Africa sign cooperation agreements

Algerian diplomatic sources said that President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki is visiting Algeria today in a step to enhance bilateral relations and energize commercial exchange between the 2 countries.

The sources added that accompanying the president will be a delegation of at least 7 ministers and heads of large companies in south Africa from different sectors among which are mining, petroleum, gas, tourism and finance.

The sources also said that Mbeki will hold during his 3-day visit talks with the Algerian President Abd El-Aziz Bu Taflika and the Prime Minister Ali Bin Felis concerning the technical cooperation between the two countries.

The two presidents will head the first session of the joint committee meeting which the two countries formed in 1998.

It is expected that the two sides would sign during the visit many agreements in fields of energy, mining, water, education, security and tourism.

Foreign diplomats in Algeria said that Mbeki's visit will contribute in improving Algeria's attractiveness for foreign investors.