国际英语新闻:German Chancellor to visit Algeria on Monday to strengthen ties

ALGIERS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will pay an official visit to Algeria on Monday at the invitation of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Presidential Office said Sunday.

"At the invitation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel, will pay an official visit to Algeria on Monday, as part of bilateral high-level consultations," the presidential office said in a statement.

"The visit aims at strengthening the friendly relations and cooperation between Algeria and Germany, which is witnessing significant development in all fields," the statement added.

According to the statement, Merkel is expected to discuss with Bouteflika ways to "promote bilateral political dialogue," especially the "establishment of an important bilateral economic and trading partnership."

Other major issues of mutual concern, including illegal immigration, cross-border terrorism, will also be on the agenda.

Algeria is working on diversifying its economy, as part of the government plan to reduce dependence on hydrocarbon revenues.

More than 200 German companies are operating in Algeria, while the trade between the two countries hit 3.07 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, according to official figures.

The oil rich North African country aims at attracting more German companies to launch industrial projects in different fields, including renewable energies, car assembling, as well as the chemistry and pharmaceutical industry.