ALGIERS - The members of the High Council for the National Scientific Community Abroad on Sunday commended the unwavering support of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, for Algeria's scientific experts, as well as his abiding commitment to involving them in the country's development and in efforts to build a knowledge-based economy.

Speaking after the audience granted by the President of the Republic to Council members, Professor Elias Zerhouni, the Council's coordinator, emphasized that he had sensed during the meeting President Tebboune's "deep conviction that Algeria must now achieve a genuine breakthrough across multiple fields by drawing on its scientific sons and daughters, both at home and abroad."

"We possess the capacity for this, and our country stands ready for this stage," Zerhouni said, noting that Council members had given close attention to "the constructive vision put forward by the President of the Republic," while briefing him on progress made thus far to "translate projects and programmes into operational realities that serve national development."

For his part, Professor Belgacem Haba praised the President of the Republic's establishment of the Council, describing it as "a forum bringing together Algerian scientists based abroad and their counterparts at home, aimed at deepening ties between them and devising new programs to advance development across various sectors."

Professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi, a mechanical engineering specialist at Boston University in the United States, hailed President Tebboune's initiative in creating the High Council of the National Scientific Community Abroad as a step designed to "serve Algeria and reinforce its development trajectory."

He further noted that the President of the Republic, in his meeting with Council members, had stressed the need to "attain excellence and cultivate scientific capacities capable of propelling the country forward." These are objectives "we shall strive to achieve in partnership with our fellow experts, universities, and institutions at home," he highlighted.

Virology and vaccine-development specialist Professor Yahia Chebloune expressed his gratitude to President Tebboune for his initiative in creating the Council, stating: "We engaged with the President of the Republic in a rich exchange, through which we perceived great resolve and firm determination to carry forward the country's development in every sphere, anchored in science and scholarship."

He added that the President of the Republic had called on Council members to contribute to this endeavor by sharing their expertise, noting that "this meeting demonstrated President Tebboune's thorough grasp of Algeria's present needs, notably his scientific expertise across various disciplines."

Artificial intelligence researcher and Paris University professor Abdelhamid Mellouk likewise commended the President of the Republic's keen interest in the transfer of expertise from Algerian scientists abroad and in mentoring the young elite who represent tomorrow's successors.

Specialist physician and radiology researcher in the United States Professor Bachir Taouli underscored the significance of the meeting, extending his gratitude to President Tebboune for his enduring support of Algerian scholars abroad, wherever they may be, and for his commitment to bolstering their bond with their homeland by building bridges of communication and involving them in various key areas.