Díaz-Canel was received by Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane.   Photo: Twitter @BrunoRguezP.

Algiers, November 16 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reaffirmed his country's willingness to consolidate relations with Algeria, in the context of his official visit to the North African nation that began on Wednesday.

The president stressed that Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with revolutionary Algeria, free of French colonial rule, and highlighted the coincidence that this visit takes place in the year of the 60th anniversary of these bilateral ties.

Algeria is the first destination of the international tour of the Cuban head of state, which will conclude on November 27, and also includes Russia, Turkey and China.

The Cuban president's work agenda in Algeria includes, among other activities, an exchange with his host counterpart, and a meeting with collaborators of the Cuban Medical Brigade and members of the State Mission of the island.

This is the first time that Díaz-Canel visits a country of the African Union as Head of State.  The previous one at this level was in 2015, when Army General Raúl Castro, then President of the Councils of State and Ministers, also visited Algeria.