Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, September 3, 2024. /Xinhua
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The two leaders jointly announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
Noting China and Mauritania are each other's good friends and good brothers, Xi said the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, with solid political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation and deep-rooted friendship between their people.
China appreciates that the Mauritanian side stands firmly with China on issues related to China's core interests and will, as always, firmly support Mauritania taking the path of development in line with its national conditions, he added.
The Chinese president said China is willing to work with Mauritania to promote cooperation in building the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen cooperation in diverse fields, and turn bilateral relations into a model of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between countries.
Xi appreciated Ghazouani's positive contribution to the preparations for the FOCAC as the rotating chairperson of the African Union.
China is willing to work closely with the Mauritanian side and take the summit as an opportunity to gather the strength of the Chinese and African people, build a high-level China-Africa community of shared future, enhance the voice and representation of the countries of the Global South in global governance, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, Xi stressed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, September 3, 2024. /Xinhua
Ghazouani said that the friendship between Mauritania and China is strong and profound, and the Mauritanian side is proud of its friendly relations with China.
He thanked China for its valuable support for Mauritania's economic and social development, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mauritania firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely opposes all words and deeds that violate the one-China principle, Ghazouani stressed.
At a time when the world is facing many risks and challenges, deepening cooperation with China is the hope for Mauritania and other countries to achieve sustainable development, he said.
Mauritania and China are highly consistent in their positions on major issues such as the Palestinian question, Ghazouani said, adding both sides firmly oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries, call for respect for the independence and autonomy of all countries, and oppose violent extremism.
The Mauritanian president said he looks forward to working closely with China to promote the success of the 2024 FOCAC summit and to promote peace and development in Africa and the world.