CPAFFC President Lin Songtian meets Algerian ambassador

Liu Lu

P resident Lin Songtian of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries met with Algerian Ambassador Hassane Rabehi on March 15 at the association’s headquarters in Beijing. Sun Xueqing， director-general of the association’s Department of Asian and African Affairs， was also present at the meeting.

Lin congratulated Rabehi on his second term as ambassador to China and appreciated the positive trend of bilateral relations under the strategic guidance of the two countries’ heads of state.

With their profound traditional friendship， Lin said， China and Algeria have always been true friends and brothers. In the past， we offered mutual understanding and support to each other’s just cause of national independence. Now we are committed to winwin cooperation and common development with joint efforts to eradicate the common enemy of poverty， he said.

Lin said China will always bear in mind the historic contribution Algeria made in helping restore the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat at the United Nations. “Since long ago，” Lin said， “the two countries have resolutely supported each other on core interests and major concerns. Fruitful results have been achieved in friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.”

He said China would like to strengthen political mutual trust， further win-win cooperation with Algeria within the framework of high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and beef up close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. “In this way， we can make new contributions to enhance our comprehensive strategic partnership，” he said.

Lin noted that China， under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and with a commitment to President Xi Jinping’s peoplecentered philosophy of development， had won the victory on schedule in the tough battle against poverty. It has realized the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects， created the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability and successfully overcome the “three world conundrums”of political corruption， environmental pollution and absolute poverty.

Lin briefed his guest about the results of the 13th National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference， which had concluded several days earlier. He told the Algerian envoy that the government work report deliberated and approved by the fifth session of the 13th NPC summarized the economic and social achievements made in 2021 and specified goals for development and policy measures to be taken in 2022.

“The development goal aims at making progress while guaranteeing stability，” Lin said， adding that the report helped establish consensus， boost people’s confidence and inject positive energy into a world that has recently plunged into confusion and disorder.

Lin noted that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games had successfully concluded. China fulfilled its promise to guarantee high-quality organization and services by overcoming a slew of challenges such as the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Beijing 2022 Winter Games set a new benchmark for the Olympic Games， perfectly interpreted the Olympic spirit and the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind. It showed the beautiful side of the world and injected confidence， strength， peace， friendship and solidarity into a turbulent world.

Lin said that China is willing to work hand in hand with Algeria and other African and Arab countries for win-win cooperation and common development and strive for a community with a shared future for mankind. The CPAFFC would like to give full play to its advantages in people-to-people diplomacy to establish closer ties with the Algerian embassy and friendship organizations in Algeria.

“We will exchange ideas on governance and experience in independent and sustainable development， so as to make new achievements in people-topeople exchanges and cooperation between the two countries，” he said.

Rabehi spoke highly of the longlasting stable traditional friendship between China and Algeria. He said that China was the first non-Arab country to recognize Algeria， sending its first medical team to aid Algeria in 1963. Algeria was first among Arab countries to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

The two countries have always understood and supported each other on issues of core interest and major concern， setting a good example of bilateral friendship.

Rabehi applauded China’s astounding achievements in development. He said that China had not only made remarkable social and economic achievements at home but also served as a good example for the world in terms of morals and development. The Algerian government and people have full confidence in China’s future. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is dedicated to facilitating interconnections between China and the rest of world， win-win cooperation and common develop- ment. Developing countries， including Algeria， expect more experience and philosophy sharing from China for better development， as well as deeper mutually beneficial cooperation.

Rabehi expressed appreciation for China’s success in hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He congratulated China on the successful conclusion of its two sessions for 2022 and wished the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success.

The two sides also exchanged ideas and reached consensus on promoting people-to-people friendship， advancing exchanges and cooperation between friendship cities， local governments and enterprises.