ALGIERS, Nov.15 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Foreign Secretary Ildefonso Castro Lopez was visiting Algeria in efforts to boost relations with the North African nation, APS news agency reported Wednesday.
The report said Castro Lopez handed over a message to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from Spanish President of the Government Mariano Rajoy Brey.
On Tuesday evening, the Spanish top diplomat held talks with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelkader Messahel, as they discussed ways and means of boosting bilateral relations.
The political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries is deepening, as recommended by the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation inked by the two countries in October 2002.
After the meeting, Castro Lopez told reporters that Algerian-Spanish relations have a promising future, while dubbing Algeria strategic partner for Spain.
"More than being a neighbor and friend, Algeria is also a strategic partner for Spain, and occupies an important place in the Mediterranean, the Maghreb and the Sahel region," the Spanish official said.
He further noted that that his visit to Algeria is part of constant bilateral political consultations and to prepare the 7th Algerian-Spanish High-level meeting due earlier next year in Algiers.
He expressed the will of the two nations to consolidate bilateral cooperation mostly in political and economic domains," adding that he is optimistic that bilateral relations have a promising future.
Algeria openly expressed its commitment to support the integrity and unity of Spain, following unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia last month.
