ALGIERS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said here Monday that Turkey regards Algeria as a strategic partner and a privileged place for trade exchanges.
"Algeria is for us a strategic partner, regarding her geostrategic position in the Mediterranean and African region," Davutoglu said at a press conference held at the Turkish Embassy in Algiers.
In terms of trade exchanges, the Turkish diplomat indicated that Algeria occupies a privileged place for Turkey, saying that the two countries should imminently establish direct air and sea transport lines.
Davutoglu said projects engaged by Turkish companies in Algeria are estimated at three billion U.S. dollars, while Turkish direct investments in Algeria are evaluated at more than one billion dollars.
He further specified that the agreement related to the exploitation of the Algerian gas will be reviewed and extended as of 2014. This 20-year period agreement was signed in 1988, and took effect in 1994.
On Monday, Davutoglu met with Algerian top officials, including President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Prime Minister Aabdelmalek Sellal.
The Turkish prime minister arrived Sunday in Algiers, as part of a visit at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci.
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