Chinese President Xi Jinping and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune exchanged congratulatory messages on January 31, 2026, following the successful deployment of Algeria's new Earth observation satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The collaboration marks a milestone in space technology cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative framework.
The satellite, developed through a partnership between Algerian engineers and their counterparts from the Chinese mainland, is designed to monitor agricultural patterns, natural disaster response, and environmental changes across North Africa. Analysts suggest the project strengthens Algeria's position as a regional leader in climate resilience planning while showcasing China's growing role in global space infrastructure development.
This launch follows recent agreements signed during President Tebboune's state visit to Beijing in late 2025, which included commitments to expand technology transfers and joint research programs. Space industry experts note that African nations have increasingly turned to Asian partners for satellite development, with China accounting for 40% of all African orbital launches since 2020.
