Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss energy and military cooperation at talks with Algerian leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Wednesday, a presidential aide said Tuesday.
Sergei Prikhodko told journalists that Medvedev's visit to Algeria would be the fourth top level meeting between Russia and Algeria in the past 10 years.
The two leaders will also touch upon the implementation of projects with the participation of Russian companies, including rail monopoly Russian Railways, Prikhodko said.
"The sides will discuss bilateral political cooperation, trade and economic ties, military and technical cooperation, Russian Railways activity, international issues, in particular the Middle East settlement and the situation around Iraq," he said.
Earlier it was reported that Russia is to start deliveries of Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C miltirole fighters and Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten jet trainer/light attack aircraft to Algeria next year. In all, the deliveries are to be worth some $1 billion.
Algeria is among Russia's three biggest trade partners on the African continent. Bilateral trade in the first half of 2010 grew 154.2% to $752.5 million year-on-year.
"The sides pay special attention to prospects of developing a closer interaction in the energy sphere, including on the global gas market as part of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, whose active participants are Russia and Algeria," Prikhodko said.
He also noted that cooperation between Russian energy giant Gazprom and Algeria's energy company Sonatrach was important, taking into consideration considerable natural gas reserves in Algeria.
One of large projects that could be implemented by Russian Railways in Algeria is the construction of some 95 km of railroads linking the capital Algiers with its suburbs, as well as the development of infrastructure.
MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti)
