AMN /
After concluding his 3-day Hungary tour, Vice President Hamid Ansari has reached Algiers in the second and final leg of two nation visit. After his arrival at the capital city of Algeria last evening, Mr Ansari laid wreath at the Cemetery of El-Alia, known as Square of Martyrs.
Algeria’s Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal will call on the Vice President tomorrow where wide ranging issues including cooperation in Oil, Gas, Phosphate and collaboration in Space field will be discussed. After the delegation level talks between both the sides, some agreements are likely to be signed. The issue of cross border terrorism that India is facing, will also figure prominently in the discussions with top leaders of Algeria.
The diplomatic relationship between India and Algeria was established in 1962, the year Algeria gained independence from colonial rule. Since the beginning, the relations between the two countries have been warm and cordial. Both countries have been consistently supporting each other on vital issues at bilateral and multilateral levels.
India’s exports to Algeria in 2015 were 1.114 billion dollars and imports from Algeria was 0.442 billion dollars. There still remains a huge potential for further expansion of India’s exports as the imports from India constituted a meager 2 percent of Algeria’s total imports of over 51 billion dollars in 2015.
Earlier during the Vice President’s visit to Hungary, both countries signed two agreements including on water management. Another agreement was signed between Indian Council of World Affairs and its Hungarian counterpart to promote cooperation in various fields.
Briefing media persons on board yesterday, Secretary West Sujata Mehta said that during his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, Mr Ansari emphasized the need to stand up unitedly to deal with the menace of terrorism.
She said, Mr Orban has extended full cooperation and support to India in its international aspirations. Mr Orban also thanked India for its continuous support to Hungary.