Mauritius and China: Building a New Trade Partnership on Openness

Mauritius has never been defined by the ocean that surrounds it. Throughout its history, the sea has served not as a barrier but as a bridge — connecting the island to trading partners, cultures, and ideas from across the globe. Today, that outward orientation is shaping a new and increasingly important conversation between Mauritius and China. In a joint analysis published by the Mauritius Times, Xiong Xinghan of Fudan University (one of China's most prestigious research universities, based in Shanghai) and Sheetal Sheena Sookrajowa of the University of Mauritius explore the evolving trade and development relationship between the two countries — and what a genuine commitment to openness on both sides could achieve. **A Small Island With a Big Trading Tradition** Mauritius punches well above its weight in international commerce. Despite a population of just 1.3 million, the island has built a diversified economy spanning financial services, tourism, textiles, and increasingly, the digital sector. Its geographic position — sitting between Africa and Asia in the Indian Ocean — has historically made it a natural hub for trade flows between the two continents. China is already one of Mauritius's most significant economic partners. Chinese investment has flowed into Mauritian infrastructure, real estate, and the special economic zone at Jin Fei, a dedicated Chinese-Mauritian business park in the north of the island designed to attract manufacturing and logistics firms. **The Case for Deeper Engagement** The authors argue that both countries stand to gain from a more structured, transparent, and mutually respectful economic dialogue. For Mauritius, closer ties with China offer access to a vast consumer market, greater foreign direct investment, and potential technology transfer. For China, Mauritius represents a stable, well-regulated gateway into African markets — particularly relevant given Mauritius's strong legal and financial infrastructure and its network of double taxation agreements across the African continent. Critically, the analysis centres on the concept of openness — not simply as a trade policy slogan, but as a genuine institutional commitment. This means transparent rules, fair market access, and dialogue grounded in mutual benefit rather than dependency. **What This Means for Mauritius** For ordinary Mauritians, the stakes in this conversation are real. Greater trade with China could mean more export opportunities for Mauritian businesses, more competitive prices for imported goods, and new jobs in sectors targeted by Chinese investment. However, analysts have long cautioned that small economies must negotiate carefully to avoid arrangements that favour one side — particularly when dealing with a partner as economically powerful as China. The debate also touches on Mauritius's broader foreign policy balancing act. The island maintains close ties with India, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, while deepening engagement with China. Managing those relationships simultaneously requires diplomatic precision. The contribution of academics from both countries to this discussion is itself significant — suggesting that the conversation about Mauritius-China relations is moving beyond government communiqués and into the realm of serious policy research and public debate. Source: Mauritius Times