Chinese president vows stronger ties with Mauritania

BEIJING, Sept. 14 -- President Xi Jinping met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Beijing on Monday, vowing to improve ties with Mauritania within the framework of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.

Aziz was in China for the second China-Arab States Expo, a key platform to promote ties between China and Arab states, in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China.

Xi thanked Mauritania for its firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns.

China will maintain close contact with Mauritania and enhance bilateral cooperation in such areas as culture, media, education and youth, he said.

He expressed willingness to deepen cooperation with Mauritania in infrastructure construction, mining, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower and clean energy.

China will share its experience in developing special economic zones and industrial parks with Mauritania, and will continue to dispatch medical teams and medical supplies to the nation, he added.

China is ready to work with Mauritania and other African countries to hold a successful Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and its sixth ministerial meeting in December this year in South Africa, said Xi.

Aziz said Mauritania values the traditional friendship with China and will actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

He welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Mauritania.

Mauritania hopes to enhance communication and coordination with China in international affairs and will contribute to the eventual success of the FOCAC summit, said Aziz.

After their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of six cooperative documents, covering the areas of economic and technical cooperation, infrastructure construction and health care.