MAURITIUS: People hope for economic gains from Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit

Record ID: 455756

  • Title: MAURITIUS: People hope for economic gains from Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit
  • Date: 17th February 2009
  • Summary: PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS (FEBRUARY 12, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS CHINATOWN VARIOUS CHINESE FOOD VENDOR PUTTING FOOD IN A BOWL PEOPLE LOOKING AT ITEM SFOR SALE IN CHINESE SHOP VARIOUS OF MAN CLEANING STATUES FOR SALE IN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTOPHER LAMCHAMKEE, SHOP MANAGER, SAYING: "We're expecting a lot for the visit of the president of China. Because right now Mauritius, the economy has been quite stagnant these recent years. So we're expecting the government to do some more, like Chinese investors to come to Mauritius " REDUIT, MAURITIUS (FEBRUARY 13, 2009) (REUTERS) CONSTRUCTION SITE CHINESE LETTERING ON BILLBOARD AT CONSTRUCTION SITE VARIOUS OF CONSTRUCTION SITE PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS (FEBRUARY 13, 2009) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC IN STREET TRAFFICK WARDENS IN STREET VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) TERENCE BELONG, ACCOUNTANT, SAYING: "Big countries will always try to exploit small countries. But it is up to us to ensure we are not taken advantage of. We're big enough, we're not an African dictatorship, we're a better country, not better, but better led, so we can work with the Chinese without such problems. Les grands pays eassayent toujours d'exploiter les petits mais c'est a nous de voire comment on va faire pour que les grands pays nous exploitent pas. On est assez grands, on n'est pas un pays d'Afrique ou c'est uyn peu la dictature, nous sommes un peu mieux comme pays, pas mieux mais mieux dirige. Donc j'espere que nous, on pourra travailler avec eux sans problmes." EBENE, MAURITIUS (FEBRUARY 13, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS BUSINESS PARK VARIOUS OF FLAGS OF CHINA FLUTTERING IN THE WIND AT BUSINESS PARK
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mauritius
  • Country: Mauritius
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA8V8XTCRXK6GR8GF1ITSH4SL2N
  • Story Text: President Hu Jintao is due in Mauritius on Monday (February 16) on the last leg of his African tour.
    The people of Mauritius are aware of how much they have to gain Chinese investment on the island.
    China has loaned Mauritius close to 120 million U.S. dollars since the early seventies and helped build up the country's infrastructure. China is also planning a 730 million U.S. dollar economic and trade zone on the island - The largest ever injection of foreign investment into Mauritius.
    Christopher Lamchamkee is fourth generation Chinese and manages the family's souvenir shop.
    Just like many other business owners around the island, he can feel the effects of the global economic downturn that are hitting Mauritius' tourism and textile sectors hard.
    Lamchamkee is looking to the Chinese president to help boost growth on the island.

    "We're expecting a lot for the visit of the president of China.
    Because right now Mauritius, the economy has been quite stagnant these recent years. So we're expecting the government to do some more - like Chinese investors to come to Mauritius," he said.
    China has already promised to uphold its aid and trade pledges despite the global slowdown.
    High on Mauritius' wish-list for the Chinese president's visit is money for infrastructure. It's looking for some 90 million U.S. dollars to build a so-called 'dream bridge' to divert traffic away from the choked capital.
    China has contributed 12 million U.S. dollars to the state broadcaster's new headquarters.
    China's critics argue the economic giant is exploiting Africa's natural oil and mineral resources.
    But the general belief in Mauritius is that the island has as much to gain as China.

    "Big countries will always try to exploit small countries. But it is up to us to ensure we are not taken advantage of. We're big enough, we're not an African dictatorship, we're a better country, not better, but better led, so we can work with the Chinese without such problems," said Terence Belong, an accountant.
    Mauritius markets itself as a gateway between Asia and Africa and the symbols of mutual cooperation are everywhere to be seen.
    Major Chinese firms like the IT giant, Huawei, are starting to shift their regional headquarters to the island's brand new business parks.
    Chinese traders first came to the Indian Ocean island in the seventeenth century, and now ethnic Chinese now account for about three percent of the island's population.
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