ALGIERS – Tuesday, 20 June 2023 (APS) – The minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, held Tuesday a working meeting with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, as part of a visit to this country, the first in his European tour as assigned by the president of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the ministry said in a statement.

The discussions focused on “the assessment of the implementation of the outcomes of the high-level meetings and visits by the officials of the two countries, mainly President Tebboune’s visit to Italy in 2022, in addition to visits to Algeria by his counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni,” the statement said.

The two sides welcomed the achievements made, reflected in the uncedented levels of bilateral trade and investments in the hydrocarbons sector and other fields, including public works, agriculture and mechanical and manufacturing industries, the ministry said.

Algeria is Italy’s first largest commercial partner in Africa and the Middle East, according to the statement.

They also reiterated their commitment to the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation, whose 20th anniversary was marked early 2023.