China and Mauritania are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, a partnership deeply rooted in development cooperation and symbolized by a series of landmark “Friendship” projects that continue to shape Mauritania’s growth.
Since establishing ties on July 19, 1965, the two nations have maintained a strong and enduring friendship. Signature infrastructure projects such as the Friendship Port, the Friendship Hospital, and the newly completed China-Mauritania Friendship Overpass stand as testaments to the lasting collaboration between Beijing and Nouakchott.
The Autonomous Port of Nouakchott, known as the Friendship Port, was built by a Chinese company and began operations in 1986. Before its construction, Mauritania lacked deep-water harbors, and many experts doubted such a port could be built on its Atlantic coast. Today, the port is the country’s main economic artery. It handled 6.12 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, including 230,000 twenty-foot containers around 80 percent of Mauritania’s external trade.
Fayssal Beyrouk, adviser to the Port Authority, highlighted its transformative impact: “Without the port, many national development plans would not have been possible.” Continued Chinese support has enabled multiple port expansions, positioning Nouakchott as a strategic logistics hub for landlocked neighbors like Mali.
In May 2025, the China-Mauritania Friendship Overpass was inaugurated along National Road N2 in the capital. Constructed by a Chinese firm, it has significantly eased traffic congestion and quickly become a local landmark. The project also created employment for 320 Mauritanians at its peak and contributed to skills development. Chinese engineers trained local workers in technical areas such as rebar work, surveying, and materials testing.
“Many of the staff we trained were later hired by other infrastructure projects, which shows the long-term value of this collaboration,” noted Zhang Huijie, head of the technical team.
The spirit of friendship also resonates culturally. At the Confucius Institute in Nouakchott, students recently sang “Auld Lang Syne” in Chinese, led by teacher Li Mo. “This song perfectly symbolizes the enduring friendship between our two countries,” he said.
As China and Mauritania mark six decades of cooperation, these projects continue to shape lives, strengthen bonds, and symbolize a partnership that transcends borders.
