Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

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.

Xi emphasized that the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, with solid political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation and profound people-to-people friendship.

China is willing to advance Belt and Road cooperation with Mauritania, deepen cooperation in fields such as fisheries and infrastructure, leverage the role of China-aided demonstration centers, and enhance cooperation on the cultivation technology of mushroom grass, he said.

Xi lauded Ghazouani's active contribution to the preparations for the upcoming FOCAC summit as the rotating chairman of the African Union.

He said China is ready to work with Mauritania to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, raise the voice and representation of Global South countries in global governance, and jointly safeguard international equity and justice.

Ghazouani thanked China for its valuable assistance to Mauritania's economic and social development.

Mauritania looks forward to coordinating closely with China to make the upcoming summit a success and promote peace and development in Africa and the world at large, Ghazouani added.