Pakistan and Algeria will look into means of enhancing bilateral trade and co-operation in various spheres when the officials from the two countries sit across the table at a two-day first meeting of Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) here on Monday.
The two sides sounded optimism ahead of talks about the prospects of co-operation they had in the fields of economy, trade, health and oil and gas.
On his arrival here on Sunday, Algerian Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises Mustapha Benbada said he hoped that the JMC meeting would help both countries to explore new avenues for co-operation.
The visiting minister talked of economy, trade, health, education petroleum and mines as key areas where bright prospects of mutual co-operation between Pakistan and Algeria existed.
"It (the JMC meeting) will also help strengthen and flourish the bonds of fraternity and brotherhood between the two countries," Mustapha said.
Federal Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon received Mustapha and members of his delegation at Islamabad International Airport. On the occasion, Jadoon said Pakistan was looking for Algerian government's assistance to help Pakistan explore and develop new oil and gas reservoirs.
Algeria is an oil-rich African state and its expertise lay in the development of oil and gas exploration and gas pipeline.