Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China is willing to work with Mauritania to promote bilateral friendly cooperation to higher levels. 

President Xi made the remarks when meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hailing China and Mauritania's deep traditional friendship, Xi said in recent years bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development, with solid political mutual trust, in-depth practical cooperation and close people-to-people exchanges. 

China firmly supports Mauritania in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and opposes external interference in Mauritania's internal affairs, he added.

China appreciates Mauritania's support for China on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and human rights, he said. 

Over the years, China has assisted Mauritania in advancing road, bridge, hospital and other major projects that benefit people's wellbeing, Xi emphasized, adding that China will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to take an active part in Mauritania's energy, fishery, mining, infrastructure and other sectors to bring benefit to the Mauritanian people.

China is ready to work with Mauritania and other Arab countries to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era, he said.

Mauritanian President Ghazouani stressed that his country had always firmly adhered to the one-China policy, adding that Mauritania would continue to firmly support China's position on human rights and firmly oppose any interference in China's internal affairs in the name of human rights. 

Mauritania hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China, learn from China's successful governance, and continue to expand and deepen cooperation in various fields with China, he said. 

The convening of the first summit between China and Arab states comes at the right time and will surely have a significant and positive impact on the Arab world and the rest of the globe, he added.