NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania 

Mauritania’s president and Spain’s foreign minister discussed ways to expand cooperation between their two countries Wednesday.

The meeting between Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Jose Manuel Albares was aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation and expanding them to include broader areas, the Mauritanian News Agency reported.

Albares also held talks with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug during his one-day visit and also toured government facilities in Nouakchott, including the Mauritanian Fish Distribution Company.

During the day, Albares also visited the Executive Secretariat of the G5 Sahel organization, where he met with its executive secretary, Eric Tayari.

Relations between Nouakchott and Madrid have recently witnessed significant developments. Last June, the Mauritanian Council of Ministers approved a draft law allowing the ratification of a treaty of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The treaty stipulates establishing a framework for political consultation between the two countries as well as cooperation in the fields of food security, education and health in addition to legal affairs.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi in Ankara contributed to this report