BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Algeria from Tuesday to Wednesday at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

    Following is a general introduction of the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria:

    Located in northern Africa and bordering the Mediterranean Sea,Algeria lies between Morocco and Tunisia and is the second largestcountry in Africa after Sudan, with a total area of 2,381,740 square km.

    With Algiers on the Mediterranean coast as its capital, Algeriahas 48 administrative divisions or provinces and a total population of 32,818,500 (July 2003).

    After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent on July 5, 1962. However, its national holiday is on Nov. 1, when the country celebrates the Revolution Day of 1954.

    Algerians are the country's major ethnic group, while other ethnic groups include Arab-Berbers and Europeans. Ninety-nine percent of the country's religious population are Sunni Muslims, as Islam is the state religion and Christians and Jews account foronly 1 percent of the population. Arabic is the official language,with French being widely understood by educated people.

    President Bouteflika has been head of state since April 28, 1999, and Ahmed Ouyahia has been the prime minister since May 9, 2003. under the law, the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term while the Cabinet of Ministers is appointed by the president. The last elections were held on April 15, 1999, andthe next will take place in April 2004.

    Algeria abounds in petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,uranium, lead and zinc. The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone ofthe national economy, accounting for roughly 60 percent of the country's revenues, 30 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)and over 95 percent of export earnings.

    Algeria, which ranks fifth in natural gas reserves and 14th in oil reserves in the world, is the second largest gas exporter.

    Algeria's financial and economic indicators improved during themid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms supported by the International Monetary Fund and debt rescheduling by the Paris Club.

    Algeria's finances between 2000 and 2003 benefited from substantial trade surpluses, record foreign exchange reserves and reductions in foreign debt. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil production and increased government spending.

    The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment in sectors other than energy, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving the people's living standards.

    The national currency is the Algerian dinar, with 1 US dollar for 79.68 dinars in 2002.

    Algeria's armed forces consist of the People's National Army, the Algerian National Navy, the Air Force, the Territorial Air Defense and the National Gendarmerie. The country's military expenditure stood at 1.87 billion dollars or 4.1 percent of the country's GDP in 1999. Enditem