Mauritania has inaugurated the newly expanded National Institute of Public Health in Nouakchott, a flagship project funded and supported by China, marking a major boost to the country’s disease-prevention and laboratory capabilities. The ceremony, attended by President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and Chinese Ambassador Tang Zhongdong, highlighted the strategic depth of a 60-year partnership that continues to grow across public health, infrastructure and trade.
The upgraded institute now spans 12,000 square metres and includes more than 50 laboratories and over 100 specialized pieces of diagnostic and testing equipment, enabling Mauritania to strengthen surveillance of food and water safety as well as infectious diseases. Health Minister Abdallahi Sidi Mohamed Wedih praised the project as a “milestone” that will significantly elevate national public-health readiness, adding that the country intends to deepen cooperation with China in health sector modernization.
Ambassador Tang called the project a “vivid symbol” of long-standing friendship and an outcome of consensus between the two countries’ leaders. The re-opening aligns with a broader pattern of China-Mauritania health cooperation – from hospital construction to medical teams and community-level initiatives. Earlier this year, the GX Foundation partnered with Mauritania’s Health Ministry to provide up to 2,000 free cataract surgeries across the country’s interior, offering pre- and post-operative care to vulnerable populations.
Beyond healthcare, the institute adds to a collection of “friendship projects” that have shaped Mauritania’s development trajectory. These include the Friendship Port in Nouakchott, built by China in 1986 and still critical to the country’s trade, as well as the Friendship Hospital established in 2010. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China also supported the Nouakchott N2 Overpass, easing traffic congestion and generating local employment.
Environmental and agricultural cooperation has also expanded. Through joint work with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mauritania has benefited from advanced desertification-control technology, solar-powered irrigation, and training programs that help rehabilitate degraded land – a crucial need for a country battling climate-driven environmental threats.
China remains Mauritania’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 2 billion in recent years. Mauritania exports iron ore and fishery products to China, while importing machinery, construction materials and consumer goods.
The expanded National Institute of Public Health now stands as both a practical asset and a diplomatic milestone – one that positions Mauritania to tackle health challenges more effectively while reflecting China’s growing emphasis on long-term, capacity-building cooperation in Africa.
