Nouakchott / Mohamed Al-Bekkay / Anadolu

The Mauritanian-Turkish Forum for Education and Culture kicked off on Monday in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, with the participation of ministers, government officials, and academics, to discuss ways to enhance scientific and cultural cooperation and push it towards strategic horizons.

The forum is held over two days at the Diplomatic Academy in Nouakchott under the slogan 'Partnership in Education and Culture for a Common Future,' according to the Mauritanian News Agency.

The opening ceremony witnessed the launch of an exhibition titled 'Mauritania in the Ottoman Archive.'

Turkish Deputy Minister of Education Jihad Demirli said that the friendly relations between Turkey and Mauritania have begun to bear fruit, especially in the fields of education and culture.

He pointed out that Mauritania, 'with its ancient scientific heritage,' is one of the most prominent centers of Islamic civilization.

Demirli reviewed the areas of cooperation between the two countries, including Turkish Maarif Foundation schools, Turkish language teaching, scholarships, and growing relations between universities, according to the same source.

For his part, Mauritanian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Yaacoub Ould Amin affirmed the depth of historical relations between the two countries.

He considered that the forum 'embodies the will of Presidents Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and Recep Tayyip Erdogan to elevate the level of bilateral cooperation.'

Ould Amin added that the two sides reached a preliminary agreement to establish a Turkish university in Mauritania, a vocational training school, in addition to supporting the launch of the National School of Architecture in Nouakchott in cooperation with Yildiz Technical University.

For his part, Turkish Ambassador to Mauritania Burhan Koroglu said that the forum 'represents a solid step to strengthen the bridges of affection and friendship between the two peoples and countries,' noting that Turkish-Mauritanian relations are witnessing continuous development in all political, economic, educational, and cultural fields.

He emphasized that Ankara views Mauritania as a strategic partner, and that education and culture form a fundamental pillar for building understanding and trust between the two peoples.

He explained that the partnership in education gains special importance because Mauritanian students studying in Turkey represent the academics and pioneers of their country's future.

Koroglu praised Mauritania's ancient history and authentic heritage in Islamic civilization, 'which adds special depth to bilateral ties.'

The forum comes amid the development of relations between the two countries since President Erdogan's visit to Mauritania in 2018, which was the first by a Turkish president to the country.