Special Report: Spring Festival Special 2009

    PORT LOUIS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam joined the Chinese community here Saturday evening to celebrate Chinese lunar new year.

    Addressing the gathering of over 1,200 guests including leaders of the Chinese community, Chinese embassy staff and representatives of Chinese companies, Ramgoolam said that the Chinese community contributed a lot to the economic and social development in the Indian Ocean island country.

    The upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Monday, not only belongs to the Chinese but also to all Mauritians because the Chinese community is part of the multi-culture society, Ramgoolam said.

    The prime minister appreciated the efforts made by the Chinese people to boost the economic development and social progress of his country in more than 100 years.

    Ramgoolam said the Mauritian government would meet challenges of the current global financial crisis and called on the Chinese community to help the government tide over the difficulties.

    The financial crisis has affected Mauritius' economy, which depends mainly on overseas tourists and financial service to international institutions.

    But the Mauritian leader expressed his confidence that the island country would overcome the difficulties with the help of the Chinese.