Cooperation tops the agenda in Chengdu

Editor's note: President Xi Jinping held a series of talks on Friday with foreign leaders who are in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games. The following are the highlights of the talks.

Mauritania

China and Mauritania should continue to be good friends who support each other and good partners in seeking common development, and jointly safeguard the common interests of both countries and international fairness and justice, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

Xi hailed the development of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations 58 years ago, and said that China appreciates Mauritania's consistent support for China's core interests, and will, as always, support Mauritania in following a development path that suits its national conditions and oppose external forces interfering in Mauritania's internal affairs.

Noting that both countries hold similar or close views on many major international and regional issues, Xi said that they should closely coordinate and cooperate on multilateral platforms, practice true multilateralism and uphold the common interests of developing countries.

Following their meeting, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a cooperation plan between the two countries for promoting the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Xi said that the cooperation document will help China and Mauritania deepen and expand exchanges and collaboration in various fields.

Ghazouani said that Mauritania and China have a deep friendship and have always been closely united and supportive of each other.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of China sending medical aid teams to Mauritania. The Mauritanian president appreciated China's selfless assistance, especially the great contributions made by Chinese medical teams to the health of the Mauritanian people.

Mauritania firmly pursues the one-China policy and resolutely opposes any words or deeds that violate the one-China principle, he said.

Ghazouani praised the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, saying that these fully comply with the norms of international relations — such as respecting national independence and sovereignty, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations.

The initiatives contribute to upholding true multilateralism, promoting world peace, security and common development, and advancing the establishment of a more just and reasonable international order, he said.

CAO DESHENG