Chinese naval hospital ship delivers first baby onboard during Mauritania visit

A Mauritanian baby was delivered safely on Wednesday by a medical team from Auspicious Ark, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy hospital ship currently visiting the country, marking the first baby born on board the ship.

Auspicious Ark arrived in the country on Tuesday for a seven-day friendly visit, the first stop of the Mission Harmony-2026.

It has more than 100 medical members from over 20 institutions, along with 18 clinical departments and five auxiliary diagnostic departments. It can perform more than 60 types of surgery.

On the first day after the ship arrived, the medical team learned that a local pregnant woman had a critical condition -- her fetus had the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck. The woman's condition was urgent, and she hoped to be transferred to China's ship to give birth.

"This pregnant woman had a complicated medical condition and was about to deliver. Her attending doctor asked me if she could give birth on China's ship. We both felt it was an honor that the baby will be delivered by Chinese doctors on China's ship," said Med Lemin, medical liaison officer for Mauritania.

After consulting with Mauritanian medical staff and assessing the woman's condition, China's medical team moved quickly to prepare for surgery while the expectant mom was transferred to the ship.

Examinations after the woman arrived on board showed that, in addition to the umbilical cord wrapped around the fetus' neck, the fetus was also in an abnormal position. Doctors also found a scarred uterus, low amniotic fluid volume and signs of amniotic fluid contamination, making the situation more complex.

In response, doctors from the pediatrics, anesthesiology and ultrasound departments were simultaneously notified and rushed to the operating room to deliver the baby.

At 13:23, a 3.4-kilogram baby boy was delivered safely.

"Thank you. Thank you very much today. We are very happy. Congratulations. You have saved the life of a mom and her child," said a Mauritania doctor.

The baby was named Mohamed Khalil, which translates to "friendship."

"He was born on the Auspicious Ark, and his parents named him friendship, so he came into this world with good fortune and friendship," said Xu Xiaozhe, a Chinese doctor.

China and Mauritania established diplomatic relations in 1965. This marks the second visit by a Chinese naval hospital ship to the country.

Chinese naval hospital ship delivers first baby onboard during Mauritania visit

The second China-Canada Strategic Economic and Financial Dialogue was held on Monday in Vancouver.

He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council, and Chinese lead person for the dialogue, co-chaired it with Canadian lead persons Francois-Philippe Champagne, minister of finance, and Maninder Sidhu, minister of international trade.

He stated that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China-Canada relations have turned for the better, and bilateral exchanges have returned to a sound track.

He said this dialogue is a concrete measure to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, adding that China is willing to work with Canada, upholding the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while reserving differences, to deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, and investment, promote the stable and healthy development of China-Canada economic relations, and contribute to building a new type of strategic partnership between the two countries.

Champagne noted that Canada attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to work with the Chinese side to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, strengthen policy communication and coordination, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and financial fields.

Sidhu said that Canada looks forward to further expanding practical cooperation with China in trade and economic sectors and driving greater development in bilateral economic and trade relations.

During the dialogue, the two sides reached a series of mutually beneficial outcomes and consensus.

He, Champagne, and Sidhu jointly attended a business roundtable with industry leaders from both countries to discuss opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment on Sunday.

Second China-Canada Strategic Economic and Financial Dialogue concludes in Vancouver