Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark on Friday launched a medical outreach mission in Mauritania as part of the Mission Harmony-2024, delivering medical services to local people.
The Chinese ship arrived in the country on Thursday for a seven-day goodwill visit. It is the hospital ship's first visit to Mauritania and also the first time a Chinese naval ship has paid a visit to the country since China and Mauritania established diplomatic relationship in 1965.
A team of Chinese medical officers departed from the ship on Friday morning to a medical center in Nouakchott. Upon their arrival, many women, children, and elderly residents came to the center to seek medical consultation.
The Chinese team focused on prevalent health issues, including hypertension, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders, answering the patients' questions and addressing their concerns.
During the seven-day visit, the Peace Ark will use its main platform to provide medical services to local people, and dispatch medical teams to local hospitals and Mauritanian military installations. Members of the ship will also carry out cultural exchange activities in local schools.
"Our goal is to bring health and hope to them, ensuring they feel the warmth of our care. Every effort we make is worthwhile," said Dou Xiaorong, a Chinese medical officer.
Chinese naval medical officers provide services in Mauritania
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit