A reception was hosted, yesterday, by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Mauritius, Mr Zhu Liying, on the occasion of the Chinese New Year 2024, at the Port Louis Cruise Terminal in Les Salines. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, will be celebrated on 10 February 2024.

The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun; the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, and his spouse, Mrs Kobita Jugnauth; the Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon; Vice-Prime Ministers, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo; several Ministers; Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Lady Sarojini Jugnauth; and other eminent personalities were present on the occasion.

In his address, the Chinese Ambassador, indicated that the Chinese New Year has historically been considered to be the most significant traditional holiday for Chinese people all over the world. He dwelt on the eager participation of Mauritians in the celebrations of this festival which proves how inclusive and richly diverse Mauritian culture is, and how well Chinese culture fits into the harmonious fabric of the Mauritian society.

Highlighting that Chinese New Year 2024 is a year of the Dragon, Ambassador Zhu underpinned that the completion of the Cruise Terminal represents a new momentum for Mauritian tourism, which is now back up to cruising speed.

He, moreover, elaborated on the role that China continues to play in terms of driving force, as regards its contribution to global growth standing at over 30%, its Gross Domestic Product of 5.2% in 2023, and the favourable forecasts of global institutions which provide an element of confidence in this uncertain world.

As such, he accentuated that in its march towards modernisation, China is poised to become the world’s fastest-growing economy as it advocates fair, balanced multipolarisation, and inclusive win-win globalisation, thereby offering even greater opportunities for cooperation and peace.

The Chinese Ambassador announced too, the hosting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit this year, a major event to further promote the Sino-African partnership with mutual respect and mutual benefit, and with the goal of common development. The collaborative venture of the two partners is geared towards future progress and Mauritius holds a pivotal role as a springboard for greater collaboration with the African continent, he pointed out.

He also commended the Chinese community living in Mauritius for their active participation in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year so as to preserve long existing traditions and inculcate the young generation. The Ambassador moreover elaborated on socio-cultural activities that will be organised in this context, namely: a Gala evening at the J&J Auditorium in Phoenix on 10 February 2024, and a wide variety of cultural events hosted by Sino-Mauritian Associations, schools and, companies, throughout the country.