Syria, Algeria agree to expand and develop bilateral relations
Algeria and Syria agreed on Thursday (June 4th) on the need to develop bilateral relations between the two countries to include energy, security and investment, reflecting the historical relationship.
This came in a statement by Foreign Minister Asaad Cheibani, following his reception by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Algerian presidential palace, according to Algeria International TV.
Al-Shaibani, accompanied by the head of the General Intelligence Service, Hussein al-Salameh, began his first visit to Algeria on Wednesday, which was not announced in advance and the duration of which was not announced.
"We were honored to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and we stressed the importance of Algerian-Syrian relations, both historical and deep," the minister said, adding that he "conveyed the greetings, thanks and respect of President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the Algerian president."
The agreement of the two sides stressed the need to "develop bilateral relations to include key sectors such as energy, economy, security and investment".
Cheibani described his meeting with the Algerian president as "distinctive" and that he saw "Algerian interest in the importance of Syria and its current experience and support for the political path it is taking".
Cheibani meets his Algerian counterpart
Earlier on Thursday, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf received his Syrian counterpart, according to a statement by the Algerian Foreign Ministry.
The two sides agreed to "revive bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Joint Higher Committee and the Algerian-Syrian Business Council, as well as the formation of sectoral working committees in order to determine priorities for bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture, mines and transport", the statement said.
The talks between the two sides allowed them to review and assess the reality of bilateral relations and ways to develop them in the future, "reflecting the depth and strength of the distinguished historical ties that unite the two brotherly countries and peoples."
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said that the two ministers exchanged "visions on the regional and international situations, especially in the Arab region and the African continent, where they stressed the importance of promoting peaceful solutions to various crises, conflicts and conflicts that threaten security and stability regionally and internationally".
For its part, the state-run SANA news agency said that the visit comes within the framework of continuous diplomatic efforts aimed at consolidating bilateral cooperation and developing political relations in light of the increasing dynamism witnessed in official contacts between the two sides during the recent period.
Results of Cheibani's visit to Algeria
Syria and Algeria have agreed to reactivate the Joint Higher Committee and the Algerian-Syrian Business Council, after a hiatus of years, to allow for the resumption of institutional coordination in economic and investment files, and the formation of specialized committees to determine priorities for cooperation in the energy, agriculture, mining and transport sectors.
The security agenda of the head of the Syrian intelligence service with Algerian officials focused on building trust, fighting cross-border movements, exchanging information, and settling the file of Syrians residing in Algeria.
The meetings paved the way for the appointment of a new Syrian ambassador to Algeria, and arrangements were put forward to restart the direct air route between the two countries, in addition to mutual visa waivers in support of trade and tourism.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabwat discussed with her Algerian counterpart on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference in Geneva on Tuesday (June 2nd) the import of Algerian expertise in the fields of social security and labour protection.