As part of the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing authorities signed on Friday an agreement with Mauritania aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and cooperation, China Central Television reported.

The agreement was signed on Friday in the city of Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan province, by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

According to the agreement, both parties will work to ensure cooperation across a wide range of areas, as well as work to remove trade barriers, promote investments and support people-to-people exchanges.

Facing profound changes unseen in a century in the world, China and Mauritania should continue to be good friends who support each other and good partners in seeking development, and jointly safeguard their common interests and international fairness and justice, Xi said. pic.twitter.com/eCBKvWooP5

— Xi's Moments (@XisMoments) July 28, 2023

President Xi said that the two countries should collaborate in joint activities to uphold their shared interests and safeguard international norms of fairness and justice. 

The city of Chengdu, where the deal was signed, also happens to be hosting the 2023 World University Games this year. 

After reopening its borders in late 2022, China has invited representatives of several countries to partake in the games, including participants from Indonesia, Georgia, Burundi, Guyana, and Fiji.

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