In early July, the familiar tune of Auld Lang Syne in Chinese echoed through a classroom at the Confucius Institute in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. Leading the chorus in Chinese was Li Mo, a teacher from China, guiding his students in a tribute to a friendship that transcends language and borders.

"Everyone here knows this song and its meaning," Li said. "It perfectly symbolizes the enduring friendship between China and Mauritania."

China and Mauritania established diplomatic ties on July 19, 1965.

Over the past six decades, "friendship" has been a defining theme of their partnership.

Signature projects such as the Friendship Port, the Friendship Hospital, and the recently completed China-Mauritania Friendship Overpass stand as lasting symbols of this relationship.

Located on the Atlantic coast, the Autonomous Port of Nouakchott, also known as the Friendship Port, is considered the "economic lung" of Mauritania. Built by a Chinese company, the port began operations in 1986.

Before its construction, Mauritania lacked natural harbors and struggled with severe shortages of essential materials. European experts once deemed a deep-water port unfeasible. Its completion marked a milestone in the country's pursuit of economic independence

"Without the port, many national development plans would not have been possible," said Fayssal Beyrouk, adviser to the Director General of the Port Authority, who once studied port management in China. "The deep-water port enabled the import of industrial equipment and essential goods, laying the foundation for our economic progress."

Thanks to continued Chinese support, the port has undergone several expansions. In 2024, its annual throughput reached 6.12 million tonnes, handling 230,000 twenty-foot containers, about 80 percent of the country's external trade.

"Today, the port not only serves Mauritania but is also emerging as a logistics hub for landlocked neighbors like Mali," said Ahmedou Mokhtar El Gayed, the port's commercial manager. "A special economic zone is being planned within the port to support the oil and gas industry. None of this would be possible without strong Chinese support."

Another major infrastructure project, the China-Mauritania Friendship Overpass, was inaugurated in May this year. Built by a Chinese firm along National Road N2 in Nouakchott, the overpass has eased traffic congestion and become a popular local landmark.

Beyond improving transport, the project created jobs. At its peak, 320 Mauritanian workers were employed. Chinese engineers trained local staff in key technical skills, including rebar work, surveying, and materials testing.

"Many of the local staff we trained were later recruited by other projects, a real recognition of their skills," said Zhang Huijie, head of the project's technical team.

Cooperation in healthcare has also yielded significant results. Built with Chinese assistance in 2010, the Friendship Hospital is one of Nouakchott's largest public hospitals. Located in the Arafat district, it serves nearly 60 percent of the city's low- and middle-income residents.

"Our Chinese friends have given us tremendous support," said hospital director Mustafa Abdallahi. "Beyond building the hospital, they continue to provide medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and technical assistance."

Since 1968, China has sent 35 medical teams to Mauritania. More than 800 Chinese doctors and specialists have offered long-term services. The current team runs a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic at the hospital, where acupuncture treatments for back, neck and joint pain have become increasingly popular.

"People line up for TCM consultations every time we open," said Liu Sijia, a member of the team. "We also train local doctors to help spread this valuable knowledge."

Speaking to Xinhua, Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania Tang Zhongdong said that Mauritania has proposed branding more development projects as "Friendship" initiatives, an expression of mutual trust and deep-rooted goodwill.

"More 'Friendship' projects are on the way," Tang said. "They will continue to elevate China-Mauritania relations to new heights."