Politics
China Marks 54 Years of Ties by Urging Mauritius to Lead African Trade
The Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius has called for a significant deepening of economic ties, urging the island nation to leverage free trade agreements to become a strategic gateway to Africa.
Speaking at a Spring Festival reception at the Trianon Convention Centre, Ambassador Shifang Huang highlighted the “considerable potential” of the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations.
The event, marking the start of Chinese New Year festivities, was attended by the President of the Republic, Dharam Gokhool, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, and Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger.
A Strategic Gateway to Africa
Ambassador Huang emphasised that 54 years of diplomatic relations have laid a solid foundation for a new era of cooperation.
She outlined a vision where increased implementation of the FTA would facilitate:
- Market Integration: Allowing more Mauritian products to enter the Chinese market.
- Investment Influx: Attracting Chinese expertise and capital to Mauritian shores.
- Regional Leadership: Positioning Mauritius as a strategic portal for China’s engagement with the African continent.
The timing is particularly significant as 2026 has been designated the “Sino-African Year of Exchanges,” a project recently launched at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Global Initiatives and Future Vitality
Looking ahead, the Ambassador called for “new vitality” in bilateral relations through the Belt and Road Initiative. She also pointed toward China’s four major global frameworks as pillars for future partnership:
- Global Development Initiative (GDI)
- Global Security Initiative (GSI)
- Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)
- Global Governance Initiative (GGI)
Success on the Horizon
Concluding her address on a cultural note, Dr Huang noted that the upcoming lunar year is the Year of the Horse, a traditional symbol of speed and success.
Invoking the Chinese idiom “Ma Dao Cheng Gong”—meaning “success comes with the arrival of the horse”—the Ambassador expressed her hope that the new year would bring fresh achievements and further solidify the bond between the two countries.
Source: Le Mauricien