Algerian president starts trip to China, Vietnam

Algerian President Abdul Aziz Boutafliqa started on Sunday a tour to China and Vietnam which will extend to October 18.

In china, Boutafliqa will attend the first Chinese-African gathering before starting an official visit to the country and then heading to Vietnam.

The goal of the visit is to improve economic and political relations with the two Asian countries.

Chinese president Jiang Zemin had visited Algeria last October and Vietnamese president Tran Duc Luong was in Algeria last December.

Boutafliqa is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation.