Spanish FM visits Algeria to discuss bilateral relations

Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Maria Dastis Quecedo stressed Wednesday enhancing bilateral relations with Algeria.
At the invitation of his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, Quecedo arrived in Algiers Wednesday for a two-day visit.
“I’m very pleased to visit Algeria, as it is my first trip to this country,” Quecedo told reporters. “My visit aims at consolidating the strategic relations bounding our two nations in economic and political fields.”
He further specified that this visit is part of the regular political consultations between Algeria and Spain, in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation signed on Oct. 8 2012.
Alfonso was later received by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. They discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations, ahead of the 7th Algerian-Spanish High Level Meeting, due in Algiers in the second half of 2017.
Trade exchange between Spain and Algeria hit 7.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, according to Customs figures.