Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with Mauritanian Foreign Minister Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Friday over the fight against COVID-19.

Wang said in the call that Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani sent a message of sympathy to Chinese President Xi Jinping during China's fight against the disease. He noted that the message reflected the deep friendship that exists between the two countries.

The COVID-19 disease has since spread across the world, and has now been reported in 52 countries in Africa including Mauritania.

The northwest African country has reported seven cases and one death. Two people have recovered.

Wang said China will firmly support Mauritania's COVID-19 battle until it registers victory. He noted that China had shared experiences in preventing and controlling the virus with the Mauritanian side via video conferences of health experts.

He expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Ghazouani, the Mauritanian people will score an early victory against the epidemic.

On his part, Ahmed congratulated China on its important achievements in the fight against the epidemic, and thanked China and appreciated its support and assistance to Mauritania and other countries in their fight against the epidemic.

Noting that Mauritania's national health system is weak and its COVID-19 prevention and control capacity is insufficient, Ahmed expressed his hope that in the face of the epidemic situation in Mauritania, his country will continue to receive strong support from its Chinese friends.