Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian left Tehran for Algiers on Monday to hold meetings with high-ranking officials in the country.

Hamid Chitchian is to convey President Rouhani's message of invitation to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to attend the 3rd Gas Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) which will be held on November 23, 2015, in�Iranian capital.

Iranian minister will meet a number of top Algerian officials including President Bouteflika.

The GECF has 18 members and observers. Member states include Iran, Russia, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Peru, UAE and Oman. The observers comprise Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Norway.

Gas Exporting Countries Forum controls over 70 percent of world gas reserves.

By Mehr News Agency