Medelci, speaking after talks with visiting French counterpart Bernard Kouchner, described the deals as "important" but gave no details.

His remarks were carried by state news agency APS.

Algerian newspapers said Kouchner flew to Algiers in a bid to lure Algeria back to a union for the Mediterranean -- a pet diplomatic project for French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Medelci hailed the level of bilateral cooperation with the former colonial state, saying the two sides would broaden talks on investment during an upcoming trip by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

"This is a topic on which we are working, especially during the visit by Prime Minister Francois Fillon in the coming weeks," he said.

The Union for the Mediterranean project "deserves our attention," Medelci added.

Algeria is a key country for the Union for the Mediterranean project to succeed and our links with Algeria are the key for our relations in the Maghreb region, APS quoted Kouchner as saying.