[China and Mauritius]
In 2013, the friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Mauritius further deepened.
The two countries maintained a sound momentum of high-level exchanges and strengthened their mutual political trust. In April, Premier Li Keqiang sent a message of sympathy to Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam for the flood disaster in Mauritius and Prime Minister Ramgoolam sent a letter of sympathy to President Xi Jinping for the earthquake in Sichuan Province. In August, Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Ming visited Mauritius. He attended the hand-over ceremony of the new terminal of the Ramgoolam International Airport contracted by China, held together with Mauritian Foreign Minister Arvin Boolell the first inter-ministry political consultation and signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements. Vice President of Mauritius Monique Bellepeau came to China in July to attend the ceremony marking Air Mauritius maiden direct flight to Beijing. She came to China in November to attend the World Ocean Week in Xiamen and visited Guangdong Province. Zhang Zuoji, member of the CPPCC Standing Committee and Vice Chairperson of the China Economic and Social Council, Wan Jifei, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Sun Yibiao, Vice Minister of the General Administration of China Customs, and Yang Gang, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, visited Mauritius. Mauritian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Charles Gaetan Xavier Luc Duval, Minister of Tourism and Leisure John Michael Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik, Minister of Fisheries Louis Joseph Von Mally, Minister of Health and Quality of Life Lormus Bundhoo, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Devanad Virahsawmy and Minister of Art and Culture Mookhesswur Choonee visited China and the two sides exchanged views on further cooperation in all fields.
Practical economic and trade cooperation made steady progress. China's investment in Mauritius in 2013 totaled US$190 million and Mauritius's investment in China was US$870 million, up by 27%. The construction of operation theaters and wards of the Victoria Hospital, the maintenance of MBC headquarters, the agricultural technology cooperation and other China-aided projects made smooth headway.
Across-the-board exchanges and cooperation were conducted in such fields as culture, education and tourism. The sending of the fourth batch of 11 Chinese language volunteers was highly appreciated by the Mauritian side. In 2013, 185 professionals from Mauritius came to China for training. Delegations from the China Artists Association, the China Writers' Association and the China National Academy of Painting visited Mauritius in succession to promote Chinese culture among Mauritian people. As the direct flight between Mauritius and Beijing opened and visa exemption agreement came to effect in October, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Mauritius grew still larger.
Editor:Yaling
