"As part of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Algerian-Chinese bilateral cooperation in the field of defense industry, Major General Seddiki Ismaïl, Head of the Organization and Logistics Department of the State- major of the ANP, supervised today, Monday December 18, 2023, the official opening of an event commemorating this anniversary at the central museum of the Army in the 1st Military Region, and this, in the presence of general officers from the General Staff of the ANP and the Ministry of National Defense, representatives of some ministerial departments, as well as members of the Chinese delegation led by Major General Fan Jianjun, director of materials and technology cooperation within the equipment development department of the Central Military Commission and ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Algeria, specifies the same source.
At the start, Major General Seddiki Ismaïl delivered a speech in which he emphasized "the importance of developing and diversifying the areas of the defense industry to through this bilateral cooperation" before announcing the official opening of this event.
"The development of the defense industry constitutes an imperative to preserve the sovereignty of States and protect their citizens, which requires establishing studied plans in the short, medium and long term and implementing places a real industrial environment and an effective will of all stakeholders in order to achieve the desired objectives and create a diversified military industrial activity, in line with today's requirements,” he added.
"Finally, and in the name of the General of the Army, Chief of Staff of the ANP, I declare the official opening of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Algerian-Chinese cooperation in the field of the defense industry," he mentioned.
For his part, and in his welcome speech, the General Director of Military Manufacturing at the Ministry of National Defense highlighted "the advantages of Algerian-Chinese cooperation in the field of the defense industry".
"I will not fail, on this occasion, to express in the most cordial terms welcome for your presence today at this important event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Algerian-Chinese cooperation in the field of defense industry. A flagship event reflecting the depth of historical relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of military industries which, over the past 40 years, has been marked by the laying of the foundation stone of many important industrial platforms equipped with the latest technologies and in various fields, including construction and mechanical industries," he added.
The Head of the Chinese delegation welcomed "this initiative which reflects the excellence of relations between Algeria and China".
He also welcomed "the level reached by cooperation between the armies of the two countries in the Defense industry, which calls for further work to diversify the aspects of this cooperation and its elevation to higher levels".
This commemoration was marked by a "rich and varied" including several presentations given by managers of industrial companies under the Ministry of National Defense and representatives of the Chinese delegation, the press release indicates.
Participants also watched two documentary films on the history of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense industry before the inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to this anniversary, comprising "several spaces dedicated to leading companies in the field of military industries, where various models of weapons, military ammunition, mechanical parts and different products made by these companies were exhibited".
The participants also attended an exhibition of photographs "retracing the history of Algerian-Chinese bilateral cooperation in the field of the defense industry".
It should be noted that this exhibition "is open to visitors to the Central Army Museum and will continue until Wednesday December 20, 2023", the press release concludes.