Facing increasing international isolation Algeria is taking its charm offensive to the Far East to reverse this diplomatic downturn if overtures towards Pakistan and China are anything to go by.
Pakistan are holding a series of diplomatic consultations with the two Asian countries, with a view to bettering relations, said a statement from Algiers on Thursday.
According to the statement the Algerian foreign affairs minister Ahmed Attaf, held a phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr. Wang Yi.
The call allowed the two sides to review the various dimensions of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Algeria and China and prospects for elevating it to new heights, particularly in the economic spheres, in line with the special attention both countries’ leadership gives to the relations.
Meanwhile foreign minister Attaf also held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of foreign affairs Mr.Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Their talks addressed ways to boost bilateral ties with both officials stressing the need to continue coordination within the United Nations (UN) Security Council and discussed the most important issues on the agenda of the international body.
Algiers’s overtures toward Beijing and Islamabad come against the backdrop of Algeria facing a diplomatic conundrum with its neighbours in the Maghreb and former colonial power France.
WN/as/APA