Special report:   2008 Olympic Games

    ALGIERS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The forthcoming Beijing Olympics will be a splendid gathering for cultural and personnel exchanges featured with fair play, said Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in a recent written interview with Xinhua.

    Bouteflika, who is due to be the first Algerian head of state to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, expressed his appreciation for China's success in organizing the Olympic event, which the Chinese people have every reason to take pride in.

    The president said China's technological achievement and infrastructure construction for the Beijing Olympics have won the respect worldwide, which substantiates an incredible success enjoyed by both the Beijing Olympics and China.

    As the number of Chinese athletes and their overseas peers that will participate in the event is expected to hit a new record, the upcoming event is due to bring greater glory to the Olympic movement and expand its influence.

    On bilateral relationship, Bouteflika said it was established on friendship and unity characterized with mutual support that can be traced back to some half a century ago when Algeria was struggling against the colonial rule.

    The Algerian leader said his country has long upheld the one-China policy and has firmly backed China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    In recent years, the strategic partnership between Algeria and China has been developed continuously, especially after the signing of the communique on promoting the strategic cooperative ties in Beijing in November 2006, he said.

    Bouteflika said the bilateral cooperation in economy and trade has been strengthened in the past years, with significant increase in bilateral trade volumes.

    According to the statistics provided by China's Commerce Ministry, bilateral trade reached 3.828 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, up 83 percent from 2006. China's exports to Algeria rose to 2.688 billion dollars, while its imports from that country hit 1.140 billion dollars.

    Many Chinese enterprises are currently engaging in the construction and development of Algeria in various fields, said the president, praising their contributions to Algeria's development.

    Aged 71, Bouteflika has been China's long-time friend and has attached great importance to developing Algeria's ties with China. He has visited China for four times.

    Algerian Olympic Committee Chairman Mustapha Berraf said earlier that Bouteflika's upcoming visit to China represents Algeria's lont-lasting support for China, a friend of the African country.

    Algeria is sending 70 athletes to the Beijing Games, its largest Olympic group since the country declared independence in 1962, to compete in 13 events.