Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal will next week become the first Algerian head of government to visit China since the north African country won independence in 1962, China's Foreign Ministry has announced.

Sellal will be in China from Tuesday to Friday for a visit to which "China and Algeria attach great importance," spokesman Hong Lei said.

President Xi Jinping will meet with Sellal, and Premier Li Keqiang will have talks with him. Both sides will exchange views on strengthening bilateral partnership as well as on international and regional issues, Hong said at a daily news briefing.