Africa-Press – Mauritius. In the context of the upcoming Spring Festival to be celebrated on 17 February 2026, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Mauritius, Dr Huang Shifang, hosted a reception, yesterday evening, at the Trianon Convention Centre. This year will mark the Year of the Horse, a symbol of speed and success in Chinese culture, and is expected to bring new achievements and progress.
The event was graced by the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Dharam Gokhool; the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam; the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Paul Raymond Bérenger; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Dhananjay Ramful. Ministers, Junior Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other distinguished personalities were also present.
On the occasion, toasts were raised by President Gokhool and Ambassador Huang Shifang, reaffirming the strong and enduring ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
In a statement, Minister Ramful underlined that relations between Mauritius and the PRC have always been strong and cordial. While diplomatic relations were formally established in 1972, he recalled that ties between the two countries date back much earlier, with the presence of a Chinese community in Mauritius since the 1800s. The Minister spoke about the significant contribution of the Chinese community to the social, cultural, and economic development of the country, within a multicultural Mauritian society.
Minister Ramful further referred to PRC’s continued support to Mauritius through several initiatives, including cultural, language, and infrastructure projects. He reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation, with regard to the Free Trade Agreement between Mauritius and the PRC , which aims to further strengthen bilateral trade and ensure mutual benefits for both nations.
According to Ambassador Huang Shifang, the Spring Festival has long been celebrated in Mauritius as a statutory holiday, with its festive spirit shared across communities and reflecting the country’s rich multicultural fabric. She noted that the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Mauritius symbolises harmony, unity and the close bonds between the two peoples.
Turning to recent developments, Dr Shifang stated that despite persistent global uncertainties, her country has maintained stability, resilience and steady economic growth. She highlighted progress in innovation-driven development, advances in technology and research, and the continued commitment to opening up its economy. The PRC actively plays a key role in global governance and supports a fairer and more inclusive international system through multilateral cooperation, she added.
The Chinese Ambassador further stressed the strengthening of Mauritius-China relations, characterised by shared development visions and expanding practical cooperation. She referred to progress in areas such as capacity-building, financial cooperation and community-based initiatives, which she said, illustrated the depth of people-to-people ties.
Reaffirming her country’s support for multilateralism and South–South cooperation, Dr Shifang expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to deepen through enhanced economic integration, cultural exchanges and closer collaboration at regional and international levels.
