Chinese President Hu Jintao presented a five-point proposal for advancing China-Mauritius ties during a meeting Tuesday with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

Hu said since the establishment of diplomatic relations 37 years ago, the two nations have enjoyed mutual respect and equality, and have continuously consolidated and developed friendly cooperation.

In the political sphere, the two sides have continued to strengthen mutual trust, and have shared mutual understanding, sympathy and support on issues concerning each other’s key interests, Hu said.

In the economic sphere, Hu said, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Mauritius has continued to expand, with the two-way trade increasing year by year. The two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields such as labor, project contracting, agriculture, investment and human resource training, he added.

In the cultural sphere, Mauritius was the first African country to open a Chinese cultural center, and the two sides are conducting increasingly frequent exchanges in culture and education, as well as more active people-to-people exchanges, said the Chinese president.

China and Mauritius have also maintained a high level of coordination and cooperation in international affairs, Hu said.

The Chinese president said it is necessary for both China and Mauritius, as developing countries, to reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly cope with the challenges posed by the spreading international financial crisis.

He presented a five-point proposal for advancing relations between the two countries.

First, the two countries should maintain the momentum of high-level visits, boost friendly communication between the two governments, legislative bodies, parties and citizens, and reinforce mutual political trust.

Second, the two sides should establish closer economic and trade cooperation, give full play to the role of the economic and trade mixed committees of the two countries, regularly exchange opinions on expanding fields of cooperation and promoting the level of cooperation, and make joint efforts to set up an economic and trade cooperation zone.

The Chinese government will continue to encourage and support Chinese companies to invest in Mauritius and stands ready to advance bilateral cooperation in infrastructure building.

Third, China and Mauritius should reinforce cooperation to deal with the international financial crisis. China is willing to exchange experience with Mauritius on tightening financial supervision, expanding domestic demand and pushing forward economic growth, and jointly explore effective ways to deal with the crisis.

Fourth, China and Mauritius should increase cultural exchanges, deepen cooperation in the fields of education, culture, sports, public health and tourism, and expand communications between the women and youth of the two countries, so as to ensure the China-Mauritius friendship continue from generation to generation.

Fifth, the two nations should enhance cooperation in international and regional affairs.

China is willing to keep up consultation and coordination with Mauritius on issues like climate change, sustainable development of island countries, United Nations Security Council reforms and jointly safeguard the rights of developing countries, Hu said.

Ramgoolam thanked China for its consistent and valuable support for the economic and social development of Mauritius, and said he totally agreed with Hu’s proposal on the development of bilateral ties.

The Mauritian side is willing to expand the mutually beneficial cooperation with China in areas such as trade and economy, finance, infrastructure construction, culture, education and tourism, and pursue mutually beneficial achievements, the prime minister said.

Ramgoolam also hailed the sound and smooth implementation of the measures announced by China at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.

He reiterated Mauritius’ firm support and consistent adherence to the one-China policy, and thanked China for its support for Africa in the UN Security Council reform process.

He said Mauritius will actively participate in the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

After the talks, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony of documents of cooperation between the two countries.

Hu’s five-nation “journey of friendship and cooperation” began with Saudi Arabia, followed by visits to Mali, Senegal and Tanzania, with Mauritius being the final stop.