SHANGHAI Mayor Yang Xiong met Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz last Friday and spoke highly of his contribution to the friendship between the countries which mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship this year.

Yang also thanked the Mauritanian government for supporting Shanghai companies to invest and do business in their country. He said the Shanghai government is keen to play a bigger role in boosting cooperation between China and the African country.

The mayor briefed the president and his delegation on the development of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, saying it offers new opportunities for Chinese and Mauritanian companies to cooperate.