On the afternoon of July 28, 2023, President Xi Jinping met in Chengdu with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani who is in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games and pay a visit to the country.
Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritania 58 years ago, both sides have always treated each other with sincerity and supported each other, and forged a profound friendship. Facing profound changes unseen in a century in the world, China and Mauritania should continue to be good friends who support each other and good partners in seeking development, and jointly safeguard the common interests of both countries and international fairness and justice. The two presidents reached many important common understandings when jointly attending the first China-Arab States Summit and holding a meeting in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia at the end of last year. Xi expressed the belief that Ghazouani's visit to China this time will draw up a new blueprint for the future of bilateral relations.
Xi Jinping stressed China appreciates that Mauritania has always stood firmly with China on issues concerning China's core interests. China will, as always, support Mauritania in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and oppose external forces' interference in Mauritania's internal affairs. China is ready to strengthen the exchanges of state governance experience with Mauritania, and will continue to provide assistance to Mauritania to the best of its ability, make full use of the two China-aided technology demonstration centers for agriculture and animal husbandry in Mauritania, enhance cooperation in Juncao planting technology, and deepen cooperation in fisheries, agriculture, animal husbandry and other areas. Xi expressed the belief that the signing of a cooperation plan between China and Mauritania on the Belt and Road Initiative will deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries. China will encourage and support more competitive Chinese enterprises in participating in cooperation on Mauritania's infrastructure and energy, among other areas. This year marks the 55th anniversary of China's dispatch of medical teams to Mauritania. China will continue to send high-level medical teams to Mauritania, support the country in running well the Confucius Institute and the teaching of Chinese language, and enrich cultural, youth, media and subnational exchanges and cooperation with Mauritania, to deepen and carry forward the China-Mauritania friendship from generation to generation.
Xi Jinping noted that China is ready to work with Mauritania to accelerate the implementation of the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and the Dakar Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and bring China-Arab and China-Africa practical cooperation to new heights. The two sides have shared or similar views on many major international and regional issues, and should strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, practice true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of the vast number of developing countries, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Ghazouani said that Mauritania and China enjoy profound friendship and have always stayed closely united and helped each other. He thanked China for giving a great deal of selfless assistance to Mauritania, especially the great contributions made by Chinese medical teams to the health of the Mauritanian people. Mauritania firmly pursues the one-China policy and resolutely opposes any words and deeds that run contrary to the one-China principle, and is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy and other fields to take the Mauritania-China relations to a new height. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative that President Xi Jinping put forward fully comply with norms governing international relations, including respect for the independence and sovereignty of every country and exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. The initiatives are conducive to upholding true multilateralism, promoting world peace, security and common development, and advancing the establishment of a more just and equitable international order. Mauritania highly appreciates and actively supports the initiatives. Mauritania is ready to work with China to promote the continuous development of Arab-China and Africa-China relations and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Cooperation Plan between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on Jointly Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and Shen Yiqin, among others, attended the above events.
