NOUAKCHOTT, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy said on Saturday that China hopes to strengthen friendly and cooperative relations with Mauritania.

Li Bin, head of China's National Population and Family Planning Commission, conveyed Xi's cordial greetings and warm wishes to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz when attending his inauguration ceremony.

She said President Xi highly values China's friendly and cooperative relations with Mauritania and is willing to promote the sound and steady development of China-Mauritania relations on the basis of exchanges at various levels and pragmatic cooperation.

Abdel Aziz said Mauritania sincerely appreciates the long-standing support and assistance from the Chinese side, adding that his country is willing to deepen friendly cooperation in various fields and jointly push forward bilateral relations with China.

Abdel Aziz was sworn in here on Saturday for a second five-year term after winning the June 21 presidential election.