On 19th of September 2018, Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius held a talk on Silk and Silk Road at Lux Resort Hotel, Belle-Mare. Both Directors of Confucius Institute attended the activity.
Director of CI-UoM and academic staff/consultant in the field of Textile Technology, Associate Professor Naraindra Kistamah, delivered the talk on the origin and history of the silk fibre, the development of silk production in China, the basic processes in the manufacture of silk fabric and the value of silk as a luxury fibre in the apparel industry. He also detailed the history of the Silk Road connecting China to many parts of the world, thousands of years ago. Dr. Kistamah also mentioned the "One Belt and One Road" initiative proposed by the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, in 2013.
About 20 students of Confucius Institute and staff from Lux Resort Hotel attended the activity. It is hoped that the audience now have a better understanding of the silk fibre, the Silk Road and the B&R Initiative. They find that more and more Chinese tourists visit Mauritius and their hotel, and that the learning of Mandarin language and Chinese culture is a necessity for a more intimate service at the hotel.
LUX* Resort hotel makes use of silk and other natural fibres to create elegant ambience in most of its suites and proposes silk products such as ‘pareos’, scarves, ties, printed shirts, blouses and other lingerie in the shop.
Plate 1. CI-UoM Director, Naraindra Kistamah, delivering his talk to staff of LUX* Resort Hotel, Belle-Mare, in the company of Mr Tan Xudong, Chinese Director of CI-UoM
Plate 2. Associate Professor Kistamah giving the reasons as to why silk is known as the ‘Queen of all Fibres’