Friendship Port aerial photography.

Photo courtesy of China Road and Bridge

Faisal, technical adviser to the director of Friendship Port Authority, visited the port.

This newspaper reporter.

Aerial photo of Friendship overpass.

Photo courtesy of China Road and Bridge

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritania. Over the past 60 years, China and Mauritius have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, setting a model for developing countries to help each other and achieve mutual benefit. In 2024, China-Mauritius relations will be upgraded to a strategic partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Recently, reporters visited a number of "friendship projects" jointly built by China and Mauritius. These projects have truly benefited the local people, promoted economic and social development, and have become witnesses of China-Mauritius friendship.

Port of Friendship.

"This is Mauritania's gateway to the world"

At the entrance to the Port of Friendship of China, a "Friendship Port" stone sculpture engraved in the three languages of the Chinese, Arab and French languages is carved in a white wall, visible in the sunlight. At the port, scattered freight ships and container ships from all over the world are parked at different stops and orderly unloaded.

In the 1970s, Mauritius, which soon became independent, was eager to have a deep-sea port in the capital, Nuwaqshot, but had repeatedly clashed with walls when seeking assistance from multiple parties. In 1971, the Chinese government decided to support the construction of this remarkable port. After extensive preparation, the Port of Friendship was officially built in 1979 and completed in 1986, accounting for more than 90% of Mauritius' national import and export of goods. This project was referred to by the Mauritanian people as a "symbol of national economic independence".

With the continued development of the economy and society, the expansion of the Port of Friendship has become increasingly urgent. China Road Bridge Engineering Limited Liability Company (hereinafter referred to as "China Road Bridge") built new 4th and 5th landing sites in 2014, so that the port's throughput capacity increased from the original 900,000 tons annually to 6 million tons annually.

Faisal, technical adviser to the Port Administration of Friendship Ports, said that Nuwakshot has no natural ports and the geographical conditions for the port construction are poor. Faced with the adverse effects of the long cycle of the Atlantic and the coastal transfer of sand jointly, Chinese builders will manage the sea stream by constructing a barricade in the north and constructing a dungeon in the south side, which will reduce the adverse impact to the minimum, which fully reflects the wisdom and vision of the Chinese builders," said Faisal.

Following Faisal's guidance, the reporter saw that on the north side of the first phase of the Friendship Port project, sea sand had accumulated over the years under the protection of the sand barrier, forming a piece of land of several square kilometers. This part of the newly added land was used as a storage yard. On the south side of the second phase of the project, outside berths 4 and 5, groins built by China engineers protected the 1.2-kilometer coastline between it and berths 4 and 5 from being washed by waves, creating favorable conditions for the future southward development of the port.

Friendship Port is currently independently operated by Mauritania, creating more than 3,000 jobs. Taraka Bami, a dock stevedor, said, "I am proud to work in Friendship Port. From daily necessities to industrial raw materials, all kinds of goods are continuously transported from here to all parts of the country and neighboring countries. This is Mauritania's gateway to the world."

Mr Maham, director of the Port Administration of Friendship Port, said that the Port of Friendship is China's iconic project in aiding Mauritania's construction and plays an irreplaceable role in helping Mao economic independence, promote trade development, and safeguard people's livelihoods.

The bridge of friendship.

"Interpreting the deep friendship of Mao's efforts to develop"

In the center of Nouakchott, the China-Mauritius Friendship Overpass spans the main traffic artery. This most modern overpass in Mauritania, built by China Road and Bridge, is another landmark project aided by China.

Friendship Overpass is located at the intersection of two major national highways in Nouakchott city. In the original roundabout area, vehicles and pedestrians are mixed, traffic accidents occur frequently, and traffic jams are like a "big parking lot". Friendship Overpass adopts a two-way four-lane design and is constructed according to the first-class standard of China's highway bridges. It was completed on May 15th this year. The completion of Friendship Overpass has greatly improved the local traffic situation and facilitated people's travel.

Because of his work relationship, accountant Abu Dai passes through the area where Friendship Overpass is located many times a day. "In the past, whether you drive or take the bus, you had to get stuck for twenty or thirty minutes every time. After the completion of Friendship Overpass, there will be almost no traffic jams, and the roads will be more spacious and tidy." Abu Dai said that the digital traffic lights and elevated facilities supporting Friendship Overpass have driven local people to develop better traffic habits and enhance their safety awareness.

Sukari, a truck driver at the Mauritania office of China Road and Bridge, said: "I used to have to get up early. If I didn't pass through here before 7 a.m., there would be traffic jams, causing me to be late for work. With the Friendship Overpass, commuting time is much easier."

Socari has worked in the Chinese enterprise for 15 years, the deepest experience is that the Chinese side has provided the help of the Mao workers: "The Chinese master taught me the skills at work, in life to help me selflessly, let me deeply feel the friendship of the Mao people."

Mao Yuanchang, head of the China Road Bridge Mauritania office, said: "China companies help Mauritania's economic and social development through the construction and construction projects, and continue to make new contributions to China-Mao friendly cooperation."

Mauritania¡¯s Minister of Equipment and Transport, Ailer Feilerke, said: ¡°Thanks to the Chinese government and the Chinese people for their high-level and high-quality support for our infrastructure construction.The bridge of friendship is a precious gift for the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries and vividly interprets the deep friendship of Mao¡¯s efforts to develop.¡±

The Friendship Series.

"To help Mauritania address the challenges facing economic development"

In the Arafat district of southern Nuwakshot, an all-white modern hospital, the Mauritanian Friendship Hospital, was opened in 2010 and significantly improved the scarcity of local medical resources. In March this year, the Chinese Embassy in Mauritania and the Mauritanian Ministry of Health signed a Memorandum of Construction on the Expansion of the Friendship Hospital, which plans to add emergency, maternity, endocrine-diabetes and other functional departments to the Friendship Hospital, and to provide related medical equipment assistance to the hospital.

In Mauritania, there are numerous infrastructure projects named after ¡°friendship¡± or seen by locals as a symbol of friendship:

The Southern Road project transforms the ¡°Delta of Poverty¡± into the ¡°Delta of Hope¡±; the Mauritanian Demonstration Center for Livestock Technology creates a green miracle in the desert; and the modern oceanic fishing base in Nuwadibu drives the upgrading of Mauritanian fishing industry.

Abdul Qada, Chairman of the National Agriculture Land Commission of Mauritania, said: ¡°China¡¯s building aid program has effectively helped Mauritania to cope with the challenges facing economic development, and the people of Mauritania see China as a true friend and a good partner.¡± ¡°I have studied and worked in China for many years and deeply felt the traditional friendship between the people of the two countries. The two countries have been helping each other for 60 years, and this is a valuable wealth.¡± ¡°Mauritania¡¯s Central Bank Director-General Aia Hama said: ¡°Mauritania values the continuous deepening of the Mauritanian friendship for 60 years.

China's ambassador to Mauritania, Dong Middle East, said that at present, China is comprehensively advancing Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development.China is willing to provide new opportunities for Mauritania's development with new achievements in Chinese-style modernization, benefit the two countries and the people of both countries, and make a positive contribution to building a new era in China and Africa all-weather community of destiny.

(This newspaper reports from Nouakchott)