China and Algeria voiced commitment in Algiers on Wednesday to step up bilateral strategic and cooperative relations and called for intensified cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy and resource exploration.

Wu Bangguo (L Front), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on November 5, 2008.[Xinhua]

In his meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, visiting Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo called Algeria as "an important cooperation partner", noting that China highly values its strategic and cooperative relations with Algeria.

China and Algeria are both developing countries and share common aspiration to develop their economies to improve the welfare of their peoples, said Wu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC).

He noted that China will join hands with the Algerian side to cement the bilateral cooperation in long-term and strategic perspectives.

He proposed the two nations should work closer in fields such as infrastructure construction, energy, resource exploration and establish an economic and trade cooperation zone.

"We should encourage our enterprises to work together on some big and important projects to improve the quality and level of the China-Algeria cooperation," Wu added.

"The Chinese government will encourage Chinese enterprises to establish business and invest in Algeria, adopt open policy on technology transfer to Algeria and launch various training programs for Algerian personnel in an effort to contribute to Algeria's economic structure adjustment and employment enlargement," the Chinese top legislator said.