Beijing, China – In a significant move that underscores the growing ties between China and Mauritania, President Xi Jinping met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani on Tuesday during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. The two leaders jointly announced the elevation of their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership.
President Xi highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two nations, noting that China and Mauritania have always respected each other and treated one another as equals. “We are good friends and good brothers,” Xi stated. He emphasized the solid political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation, and deep-rooted friendship that have characterized their relations over the years.
China expressed appreciation for Mauritania’s steadfast support on issues related to China’s core interests. Xi affirmed that China would, as always, firmly support Mauritania in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions. He indicated China’s readiness to work with Mauritania to promote cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen collaboration across diverse fields, and turn their bilateral relations into a model of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between countries.
President Ghazouani, serving as the rotating chairperson of the African Union, was commended by Xi for his positive contributions to the preparations for the FOCAC summit. Xi stressed China’s willingness to closely collaborate with Mauritania to harness the momentum of the summit. He expressed hopes to unite the strengths of the Chinese and African people, build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, enhance the voice and representation of Global South countries in global governance, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.
The elevation of China-Mauritania relations to a strategic partnership signals a new chapter in cooperation between the two nations. It reflects a mutual commitment to deepening ties and working together on regional and global issues. Observers note that this move not only strengthens bilateral relations but also contributes to the broader objectives of China-Africa cooperation, particularly in promoting development and stability across the African continent.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
