French Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault arrived here Tuesday on an official visit for talks with his Algerian Counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, along with a host of senior Algerian officials.

The visit comes as part of ongoing preparations for holding the meeting of the high-level joint governmental committee, slated for April under Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and his French counterpart Manuel Valls.

During April's meeting, the two sides will discuss means of boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields, a top of which are security, fighting terrorism and training.

The meeting will also tackle means of bolstering industrial cooperation through setting up a number of mega projects.

The visit is the first of its kind since Ayrault assumed his post in February.

Source: MENA