Algeria FM embarks on visit to US

ALGIERS - Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci on Wednesday embarked on a four-day visit to the United States, during which he will take over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) and China from Argentina at a ceremony in New York, local APS news agency reported.

During its tenure as the head of G77, Algeria will "conduct the mission of reviving the group on new bases and toward new objectives, dictated by current international changes," said a statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs.

A press conference will be held by Medelci to explain the task of Algeria while chairing the G77 and China, in addition to the reforms undertaken by the North African nation in different domains.

Algeria, which already chaired the group in 1981 and 1994, takes over the chairmanship from Argentina in 2012 in accordance to a decision made at the 35th session of foreign ministers of the group held on September 23, 2011.

After the handover ceremony, Medelci will travel to Washington to meet with US top officials, including Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.