by Wenjia Luo •Published on April 1, 2026

I. Introduction

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1958, bilateral relations between China and Algeria have developed over more than six decades, culminating in the upgrading of ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014. Traditionally, Sino-Algerian cooperation has primarily focused on energy development, infrastructure construction and military exchanges. However, a series of recent events between 2025 and early 2026 indicate that the scope of bilateral cooperation is undergoing significant changes.

II. New Milestone in People-to-People Exchanges

On 23 September 2025, Algeria’s first Confucius Institute was officially inaugurated at the University of Algiers II in the capital, Algiers. This event was described by Dong Guangli, Chinese Ambassador to Algeria, as “a milestone in the history of Sino-Algerian educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges”.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by high-level officials. The Algerian side was represented by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Bidal and the Rector of the University of Algiers II, Saïd; the Chinese side was represented by Ambassador to Algeria Dong Guangli and Wang Zhanren, President of Northwest Normal University, the partner institution. The joint attendance of ministerial-level officials from both sides demonstrates that the governments of both countries regard the Confucius Institute as a vital component of bilateral relations, rather than merely a private cultural exchange initiative.

In his address, Ambassador Dong Guangli made a noteworthy statement: “Let the traditional revolutionary friendship between our two countries take on new vitality among the younger generation.” This statement carries two layers of meaning: firstly, it acknowledges the existence of ‘traditional revolutionary friendship’ between China and Algeria – a reference to the special historical bonds forged during the anti-colonial struggle; secondly, it emphasizes that this friendship must be sustained and revitalized through the younger generation, with the Confucius Institute serving as the platform to achieve this objective. In other words, the Confucius Institute not only fulfils a language teaching function but is also entrusted with the mission of perpetuating bilateral political friendship.

Minister Bidal’s response was equally policy-oriented. He noted that the Confucius Institute “will undoubtedly further promote practical cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education, scientific research and technology”. By directly linking a language and cultural institution with “practical” sectors such as science, technology and education, this statement indicates that Algeria’s expectations of the Confucius Institute extend beyond the cultural sphere to more substantive areas of cooperation.

The ceremony featured performances by students from the Chinese Department of the University of Algiers II, including poetry recitals, folk dances and calligraphy demonstrations. The event was attended by over 800 people, including representatives from various sectors of Algerian society, members of the Chinese community and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions. This scale indicates that people-to-people exchanges between China and Algeria have already established a certain social foundation. Ambassador Dong Guangli’s on-site interviews with multiple Algerian media outlets also reflected China’s strategic intent to proactively shape public opinion and expand its communicative influence.

The inauguration of Algeria’s first Confucius Institute marks a transition in Sino-Algerian people-to-people exchanges from sporadic, ad-hoc activities to a new phase of institutionalization and systematization. The Algerian government has expressed clear support for the Confucius Institute, injecting socio-cultural momentum into the long-term, stable development of Sino-Algerian relations.

III. New Opportunities for Agricultural Cooperation

In early 2026, Ambassador Dong Guangli to Algeria paid a courtesy call on Walid, the Algerian Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. This seemingly routine diplomatic visit actually signaled that economic and trade cooperation between China and Algeria is extending into the agricultural sector.

During the talks, Ambassador Dong Guangli clearly outlined four areas of cooperation: technology-driven agriculture, green agriculture, quality-oriented agriculture and brand-driven agriculture. These four pillars of agriculture form a comprehensive framework for cooperation: technology aims to enhance production efficiency; green agriculture focuses on sustainable development; quality agriculture targets the alignment of standards; and brand agriculture is geared towards market expansion.

More importantly, Ambassador Dong framed agricultural cooperation as an extension of China’s domestic policies. He noted that China is currently promoting the ‘modernization of agriculture and rural areas’ and ‘expanding high-level opening-up’, and specifically emphasized that China ‘grants zero-tariff treatment to products exported to China from African countries. This implies that Sino-Algerian agricultural cooperation is not an isolated foreign aid project, but rather an integral component that aligns with China’s domestic development strategy and its overall policy towards Africa.

Minister Walid’s response demonstrated a clear willingness to cooperate. He identified three specific areas in which Algeria hopes to strengthen ties: poultry farming, aquaculture and afforestation. The first two fall under high-value-added agriculture, whilst the latter relates to ecological conservation and climate change mitigation. The selection of these sectors reflects Algeria’s practical needs in terms of food security and economic diversification.

More significantly, Minister Walid stated that Algeria would “continue to promote the export of more high-quality agricultural products to China” and “encourage enterprises to actively participate in exhibitions in China”. This indicates that Algeria not only wishes to introduce Chinese agricultural technology but also hopes to tap into China’s vast consumer market. The equal emphasis on exports and imports is a key feature of bilateral agricultural cooperation moving towards market-oriented and sustainable development.

Agricultural cooperation between China and Algeria is shifting from the traditional model of technical assistance towards a new model characterized by market orientation and industrial chain collaboration. China provides technology, standards and market access, whilst Algeria contributes agricultural products and localized production conditions; together, the two sides have established a mutually beneficial and win-win framework under the ‘zero-tariff’ policy. Agricultural cooperation is expected to become another growth driver in China-Algeria economic and trade relations, following energy.

IV. High-Quality International Cooperation under the Belt and Road Framework

On 27 January 2026, the Advisory Committee of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation convened a video conference and released a research report entitled ‘The Belt and Road Initiative: High-Quality International Economic Cooperation’. Although this meeting did not specifically address China-Arab bilateral relations, the policy signals it sent hold significant reference value for understanding the future direction of China-Arab cooperation.

In his opening remarks, Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Convenor of the Advisory Committee, made three observations: first, the world is undergoing a phase of “accelerated evolution of a once-in-a-century transformation”; second, the post-war international system and order face “severe challenges”; third, the multilateral trading system has suffered “serious damage”. Against this backdrop, the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, through their commitment to connectivity and shared development, are positioned as “conveying positive signals of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit” and as “an important force driving historical progress”.

This statement indicates that China interprets the Belt and Road Initiative from the perspective of global governance, rather than merely as a platform for economic cooperation. For a country such as Algeria, which has long pursued a policy of non-alignment and emphasized the democratization of international relations, this framework holds strong political appeal.

Members of the Advisory Committee offered a positive assessment of the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that it has “played a significant role in promoting global economic growth and advancing sustainable development”, and has “made major contributions to enhancing mutual trust among nations and fostering international cooperation”.

More forward-looking are the members’ suggestions for areas of cooperation, including: connectivity, international trade, artificial intelligence and the digital economy. Among these, “artificial intelligence” and “the digital economy” represent relatively new directions, indicating that the Belt and Road Initiative is expanding from “hard connectivity” in infrastructure construction to “soft connectivity” in the digital sphere. For Algeria, this means that whilst maintaining traditional energy cooperation, it can explore opportunities for collaboration with China in emerging fields such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

Although the meeting did not specifically mention Algeria, as a key participant in the Belt and Road Initiative and a major power in North Africa, Algeria naturally falls within the scope of this framework. The Advisory Committee’s emphasis on “high-quality international economic cooperation” is highly consistent with the increasingly prominent trends of “high quality” and “diversification” in Sino-Algerian bilateral relations.

V. Conclusion

This paper draws the following conclusions:

First, the scope of Sino-Algerian bilateral cooperation is expanding significantly. Traditionally, external attention regarding China-Algeria relations has centered on energy and infrastructure development. However, the latest developments from 2025 to 2026 indicate that emerging sectors such as education and culture, modern agriculture, and the digital economy are becoming new growth drivers for bilateral cooperation.

Secondly, institutional breakthroughs have been achieved in people-to-people exchanges between China and Algeria. The inauguration of Algeria’s first Confucius Institute represents not merely the establishment of a language teaching institution, but also an institutional vehicle for the intergenerational transmission of the ‘traditional revolutionary friendship’ between the two nations. The explicit support of the Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, alongside the participation of over 800 members of the public, demonstrates that this institutional initiative possesses a sustainable social foundation.

Thirdly, agricultural cooperation is shifting from an aid-based model to a market-oriented one. The framework proposed by China—encompassing “technology-driven agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture and branded agriculture”—aligns with Algeria’s priorities in poultry farming, aquaculture and exports to China. The implementation of a zero-tariff policy has created favorable conditions for high-quality Algerian agricultural products to enter the Chinese market.

Fourthly, the ‘Belt and Road’ framework provides a higher-level platform for China-Algeria relations. The ‘high-quality international economic cooperation’ emphasized in the Advisory Committee’s report, along with new directions such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy, offer Algeria more options for participating in the joint construction of the ‘Belt and Road’.

In summary, the China-Algeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is undergoing a process of deepening, shifting from a ‘government-led, energy-focused’ approach to one characterized by ‘social participation and diversified expansion’. The establishment of Confucius Institutes has provided institutional safeguards for people-to-people exchanges, agricultural cooperation has opened up new areas of economic and trade collaboration, and the high-quality development direction of the Belt and Road Initiative has injected sustained momentum into the long-term development of bilateral relations.

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