The Iranian president was welcomed by Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui at Houari Boumediene International Airport.

Raeisi is scheduled to deliver a speech at the 7th GECF Summit shortly and hold talks with participating heads of state and high-ranking officials.

On the second day of his stay, the Iranian president will be officially welcomed by his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune. In addition to Raeisi-Tebboune talks, the two countries’ high-ranking delegations will meet and sign several cooperation documents.  

Iran can become regional gas hub

Prior to his departure for Algiers, Raeisi said Iran, as one of the largest producers and exporters of gas, and thanks to its extensive connections with the countries of the Persian Gulf region and Central Asia, can become a regional hub for gas production and export.

“This capacity should be introduced to the world in order to provide the basis for strengthening Iran’s interaction with other gas-producing and exporting countries,” he added.

Pointing to his upcoming meetings with Tebboune and the visit to the African country after 14 years, the Iranian president said, “In the eyes of our people, Algeria is a country that has fought colonialism and Iranian people have very good memories of the Algerian nation’s steadfastness and resistance against colonizers.”

Touching on Algeria’s position in North Africa and the Islamic world, Raeisi said Algeria has a privileged position in the African Continent and strengthening the bilateral relations can effectively help to improve the level of Iran’s relations with African countries, especially the countries in the north of the continent, Press TV reported.

“Africa in general and the Islamic countries of this continent in particular have a privileged position in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and I hope that this trip can play a significant role in strengthening the relations between West Asia and North Africa,” he said.

Referring to the important role of the two countries in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), OPEC and the GECF, Raeisi said, “The active role of Iran and Algeria in regional organizations and the Islamic world has brought us closer to each other.”

The Iranian president added that the need to counter unilateralism, which is emphasized by Iran and Algeria as well as many other independent countries of the world, and also their common views in supporting the rights of the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza are among the factors that have led to the proximity of Tehran and Algeria to each other.

Raeisi stressed that supporting the rights of Palestinians in Gaza as a main issue in the Muslim world and the international community will also be discussed in his talks with the Algerian president.

Describing the Algerian and Iranian markets as a good opportunity for their businessmen, Raeisi added, “In the meeting with the president of the friendly and brotherly country of Algeria, the important issue of strengthening relations and the cooperation between the two countries in the field of oil, gas and petrochemicals, in which both countries have good capacities, will also be discussed.”