Xi meets Mauritanian president

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, July 28, 2023. Ghazouani is here to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games and visit China. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

CHENGDU, July 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

Ghazouani is here to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games and visit China.

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 their common interests and international fairness and justice, Xi said.

China appreciates Mauritania’s consistent support on issues concerning China’s core interests, Xi said, adding that China will continue to support Mauritania in pursuing a development path suited to its national circumstances, and oppose external interference in Mauritania’s internal affairs.

China will continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability for Mauritania, enhance cooperation in mushroom planting technology, and deepen cooperation on fisheries, agriculture, animal husbandry and other areas, Xi said.

Xi said the signing of a plan between China and Mauritania on promoting Belt and Road cooperation will deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

China encourages and supports more Chinese enterprises in taking part in cooperation with Mauritania in fields such as infrastructure and energy, Xi said.

China will continue to send more high-level medical teams to Mauritania, support the country in running the Confucius Institute well, and enrich exchanges and cooperation in terms of culture, youth, media and localities, Xi said.

Xi said China is ready to work with Mauritania to elevate China-Arab and China-Africa practical cooperation to new heights, calling for joint efforts to practice true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Ghazouani thanked China for its selfless assistance to Mauritania, especially the contributions made by Chinese medical teams to the health of Mauritanian people.

Mauritania firmly upholds the one-China policy, and is willing to enhance cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy and other fields, and to elevate the Mauritania-China relations to a new height, Ghazouani said.

The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative that President Xi put forward fully comply with norms governing international relations, Ghazouani said.

The initiatives are conducive to upholding true multilateralism, promoting world peace, security and common development, and advancing the establishment of a fairer and more equitable international order, Ghazouani said, adding that Mauritania highly appreciates and actively supports the initiatives.

After the meeting, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the plan on advancing Belt and Road cooperation.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and Shen Yiqin attended the event. ■