On 20th of May 2022, Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius (CI-UoM) held a webinar on the theme of “China-Mauritius Cooperation and Exchanges”. The two guest speakers were Dr. Roopanand Mahadew from the Faculty of Law and Management, University of Mauritius (UoM) and Dr. Zhang Yibo from the Faculty of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU). CI-UoM Mauritian Director, Dr./Assoc. Prof. Naraindra Kistamah, and Chinese Director Dr./Prof. Fu Mingduan hosted the webinar. Around 40 UoM staff, students and members of the public attended the online talks.
Speakers and audience of the webinar
Dr. Roopanand Mahadew discussed the ‘Key Preliminary Aspects of the Chinese Economic Force and Potential”. In his talk, Dr. Mahadew provided an assessment of China's economic growth by underlining key challenges, presented the audience with a balanced perspective of the economic force and potential of China. The cultural, political and economic policies which China adopted, have helped it to make remarkable economic achievements, such as lifting nearly 800 million people out of poverty over the past 40 years. Thanks to the bold economic policies, extreme hard work and discipline of the Chinese people, Chinese economy kept its sustainable economic growth. Dr. Mahadew then focused on how Mauritius can benefit from a more defined economic, political and cultural engagement with China and ensure that the future relationship between the two countries are strengthened. Mauritius is the first African country to sign a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement with China. The Belt and Road Initiative is also a good opportunity for many African countries to collaborate with China. China’s dedication to innovation, its geopolitics to prevent war and seek peace all help to bring what it has now. In cooperating with China, Mauritius should not only act as a product exporting partner, but function as a service platform of “For China, to Africa”. Joining hand with China, Mauritius will benefit.
Dr. Roopanand Mahadew, First Guest Speaker
Dr. Zhang Yibo’s topic was “Rethinking Cooperation and Exchange between China & Mauritius after the Pandemic”. Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor in Economics and has been teaching economics at all levels at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University. In her talk, Dr. Zhang first reflected on cooperation and exchanges between china and Mauritius before and after the pandemic, and highlighted the benefits each country derived from the cooperation. Mauritius attracts China not just with its scenery but with its strategic location, political stability and economic status. China attracts Mauritius with its big market, political stability, economic policies and technology. The economic, cultural and educational exchanges were active before Covid-19. However, pandemic changed the previous mode of cooperation, especially in the tourism sector. With the help of technology such as online classes, webinar and podcast, there are many potential opportunities for economic, cultural and educational exchanges which can be explored during pandemic. Dr. Zhang went on to give some suggestions for future exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, such as reducing the transactional costs to promote bilateral trade and investment, engaging in more exchanges of thoughts and facilitating more frequent and various forms of cultural exchanges online and offline.
Dr. Zhang Yibo, Second Guest Speaker
The audience responded with great interest and commented on some of the points raised by the two speakers. They were exchanges of ideas and views about what and how to learn from China, and, for example, how to attract more Chinese tourists to Mauritius. The talks gave insightful analysis of the potentials and benefit of future cooperation and exchanges, which will surely bring about a win-win outcome and common development between China and Mauritius.
China and Mauritius have a very long history of friendship and the two countries have a lot of bases for cooperation and development. The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritius. During the past 50 years, the two countries have worked closely to develop political, economic and cultural ties. They have cooperated closely in combating the pandemic situations over the last 2-3 years. Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, China and Mauritius will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation and we trust that new areas of cooperation will emerge and be explored for mutual benefits. As an education and culture bridge between China and Mauritius, Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius will continue to play its role and engage in more exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.