ALGIERS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- In the heat of the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s, when colonial repression was at its peak and international support was scarce, a distant nation opened its arms to a group of determined young Algerians, training them as soldiers in their quest for national independence.
And that nation was the newly-founded People's Republic of China.
After officially recognizing the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in September 1958, China hosted 27 Algerian trainees for comprehensive aviation training between 1959 and 1961.
In fact, China played an important role in building Algeria's early military aviation capabilities. More than six decades later, the memories of this experience, which exemplify the long-standing friendship between China and Algeria, remain vivid in the hearts of the veterans who, by that time, had received training in China.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, retired Lieutenant Colonel Boudaoud Lounes and Colonel Drid Ahmed Lakhdar, two of the Algerian airmen trained in the Asian country, shared their experiences in China. It's a story about sacrifice, solidarity, and a bond that has endured across generations.
CHINA OPENED ITS HEART
Lounes, a former bomber pilot born in October 1935, was among the very first Algerian airmen trained in China during the height of the Algerian War of Independence. "We first received basic training in Syria, at the Aleppo military school," Lounes recalled. "But for our specialization, only one country answered our call: China."
Lounes still remembers the profound impression China made on him when he first visited the country as a young trainee. "It struck me as a dynamic and dignified people with a strong historical memory. We saw immediately the parallels between the Chinese people's struggles and those of our own people."
These trainees underwent two years of professional instruction at Chinese aviation schools, specializing in piloting, bombardier operations, technical support, and radar systems. Lounes' group, specializing in bombing missions, was stationed in Harbin.
"That's where the foundation of Algeria's air force was laid," he said proudly. "There were fighter pilots, bomber pilots, and technical specialists. Our hosts spared no effort."
"What touched us most wasn't just the military knowledge. It was the way they believed in us. We were treated with respect, as equals. In China, we felt like brothers," Lounes noted.
According to the veteran, during their training, China provided the Algerian young men with an entire airbase to help them start training their own instructors. "They didn't want to dominate us -- they wanted us to become self-reliant. That offer was a foundation stone of Algeria's modern air force," Lounes said.
Beyond technical instruction, Lounes was deeply influenced by the cultural values he encountered in China. "Respect for elders, the importance of preserving memory, and living with dignity -- these were values we saw in the Chinese people. We learned a great deal from that spirit," he recalled.
"Equipment matters, but it's the human being who truly counts." This core belief, taught to Lounes by his Chinese instructors, became the foundation of his sense of military honor and moral values.
After Algeria's independence in 1962, the lieutenant colonel served as the chief of several military sectors across the country, passing on the skills and experience he had gained to a new generation of soldiers committed to defending the nation.
Meanwhile, China's support for Algeria has persisted, encompassing not only military cooperation but also efforts to promote its development. "Many Algerian youths went to China for higher studies, including in aviation, engineering, medicine, and even agriculture. It was a true partnership," Lounes exclaimed.
BOND FORGED IN STRUGGLE
Lakhdar joined the second batch of Algerian air trainees sent to China in 1959. In China, he trained as a fighter pilot. "We found more than military assistance. It was real solidarity, deeply fraternal and patriotic."
For Lakhdar, China's support was not charity; it was grounded in a common struggle against colonialism and foreign domination.
"The Chinese know what it means to be colonized. Their commitment came from their own experience," he said, noting that China's assistance played an important role in Algerian independence.
Even after over 60 years, the memory of bidding farewell to the Chinese instructors following the training remains vividly etched in Lakhdar's mind.
"When we completed our training and went to thank the Chinese Defense Ministry, they told us, 'no, we must thank you. You opened a front in Africa and freed us from encirclement.' I will never forget that moment, as it showed how our struggle was part of something bigger," he said.
Following Algeria's independence, Lakhdar held senior positions in the army and shared with his soldiers the principles he had internalized during his experience in China.
"The sense of duty, humility, and collective spirit I learned in China stayed with me for life. I tried to pass it on to younger generations," he said. ■