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Interview: Chinese ambassador says Arab summit to boost Sino-Arab cooperation

Xinhua, July 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

The organization of the Arab League Summit in Mauritania will take Sino-Arab as well as Sino-Mauritania cooperation to a new level, Chinese ambassador to Mauritania Wu Dong has said.

Speaking to Xinhua in an interview prior to the summit which opened on Monday, Wu recalled that the meeting is the first major international conference and Arab League Summit organized by Mauritania since the country attained independence in 1960.

The Mauritanian government has deployed enormous efforts to ensure the meeting goes on smoothly, especially in terms of infrastructure within the capital Nouakchott, he said.

The ambassador said the hosting of the summit as well as Mauritania taking over the presidency of the Arab League will reinforce its influence on the regional and international scene.

"As a member state of the Arab League, Mauritania has worked relentlessly for the expansion of Sino-Arab relations," Wu said, adding that Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has participated twice in the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum organized in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China.

During his official visit to China in September 2015, Abdel Aziz hailed the "Belt and Road Initiative" proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, terming it as a major boost for Sino-Arab cooperation as well as cooperation between China and countries situated along the belt and the road.

Abdel Aziz equally expressed his willingness to cooperate with China to ensure the initiative is successful.

"It is hoped that the presidency of Arab League by Abdel Aziz will help promote cooperation between China and the Arab states," the Chinese diplomat said.

China and Mauritania established diplomatic relations in 1965. Since then, the two countries have cooperated in a number of sectors, especially infrastructure.

The presidential palace, the Friendship port as well as the International Conference Center which were all constructed by China, are evidence of good Sino-Mauritania relations. Endit