WANG MENGJIE Chengdu "Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye just landed at the Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu on Friday, beginning his visit to China by attending the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade on the same day.

"Burundi is sending six athletes to the competition, as they hope to make their mark on the global stage.

"China and Burundi describe themselves as 'all-weather' friends and 'all-dimensional' partners, and they maintain a high degree of mutual trust while firmly supporting each other's core interests.

"Burundi has also enjoyed decades of solid cooperation with China in the world of sport, from Chinese Wushu to table tennis.

"The Chengdu Universiade is held from Friday to August 8, showcasing a total of 18 sports. Multiple activities promoting cultural exchange will be staged during the event, with the goal of creating a positive atmosphere among athletes from across the world.

"Postponed twice due to COVID-19, the young athletes are looking forward to returning to active competition. The student-athletes say they are ready to follow in the footsteps of established stars, as Chengdu promises to make dreams come true.

"President of Mauritania Mohamed Ghazouani just landed at the Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu on Friday, beginning his visit to China by attending the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade on the same day.

"President Ghazouani is among the foreign leaders to visit China and attend the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade. Experts say their visits highlight the significance of the Games and build cooperation between China and their countries.

"China and Mauritania enjoy a profound traditional friendship. In recent years, bilateral ties have maintained sound and stable development, with political mutual trust consolidated, practical cooperation deepened, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges strengthened. Over the years, China has been assisting Mauritania in implementing road, bridge, hospital and other major projects that benefit people's wellbeing.

"Mauritania is also an important contributor to China-Africa collective cooperation. WANG MENGJIE, CGTN, Chengdu."