ALGIERS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and China are set to sign a draft partnership agreement to include Algeria in the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Yang Guangyu said Friday.
"Algeria is not part of One Belt and One Road Initiative, but as I've said, this is a project open to all countries, and we, therefore, proposed a draft agreement to our Algerian friends to establish a partnership in this regard," Yang said in a speech to celebrate the Chinese Day at the Higher Institute for Algerian Affairs (ESAA).
The event was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Algiers and Beijing.
Yang said the draft agreement is being studied and examined by Algeria, adding that "we hope to sign it in the forthcoming weeks, at most within 2 or 3 months."
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build a trade and infrastructure network to connect Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
As many as 100 countries and global organizations have joined the initiative, while 50 billion U.S. dollars have been invested, according to the ambassador.
Through this initiative, China wants to tell the world that it supports multilateralism and dialogue, instead of unilateralism, protectionism and trade war, through offering feasible proposals, he said.
The strength of a country will not be measured by its military power, but rather by its ability to create, build and provide development opportunities, Yang noted.
As the world is profoundly changing, "China wants to be a builder of peace in the world," he said.
The Chinese Day was an opportunity for Algerian students to get in touch with the Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy and language, sets and board games, as well as music and culinary arts.
