The exchanges between Chinese and Mauritian peoples have enjoyed a time-honored history. In the early Mid-18th century, the overseas Chinese set foot on the land of Mauritius. Mauritian Chinese have made active contributions to the exploitation and nation-building of Mauritius.

On 15th April 1972, China and Mauritius established diplomatic relations, and from then on, the friendly relations of cooperation between China and Mauritius have been further developed. The two governments signed various Agreements of Cooperation in such fields as economy, technology, culture, education and sports; and established the Sino-Mauritian Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Trade Cooperation. The main Mauritian leaders who visited China since 1972 are: Prime Minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1972), Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth (1983,1991,2002), President Casam Uteem (1994) and Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam (1997). The main Chinese visitors to Mauritius are: Vice-Premier Ji Pengfei (1980), State Councilor Mr. Song Ping (1985), Mrs. Chen Muhua, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) (1990), Mr. Qian Qichen, Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994), Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji(1995,technical stop), Vice-Premier Jiang Chunyun (1997), Mr. Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC(1999) and Mr. Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC(2001), etc.

In July 2002, Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth paid an official visit to China. He met respectively President Jiang Zemin and Mr. Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, held working session with Premier Zhu Rongji, and visited Beijing, Shanghai and Guilin. During the visit, the two countries signed Sino-Mauritian Agreement on Economic Technological Cooperation, Sino-Mauritian Agreement on Educational Cooperation and Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of the Republic of Mauritius. The Sino-Mauritian Joint Commission held its sixth session and signed the parley summary.

In the economic and trade fields, the Sino-Mauritian cooperation is in good momentum of development. And its domain is constantly broadened and its forms increasingly diversified. By providing interest-free loans or preferential loans with subsidized interest, China has helped Mauritius complete some social and economic projects as the Plaisance Airport Terminal Building, Belle Vue Stadium, bridges, houses, Recreation Center for Senior Citizens and a passenger-cargo vessel etc. The low-cost housing project is in execution, the Plaines Willhemes Trunk Sewer Project is in active preparation. At present, a number of Chinese companies are engaged in engineering contracts and labor export in Mauritius. Mauritius is the country which China sends labors mostly. Chinese labors in Mauritius exceed 11 thousand, and most of them are mainly working in the textile and clothing enterprises. In recent years, China Shenzhen ShenFuBao (Group) Co. Ltd. and Shanxi Tianli Ltd. have invested in the Freeport and spinning factory respectively. In 2001, the total value of trade between China and Mauritius reached 96.136 million US dollars, Chinese export value was 87.184 million US dollars, and import value 8.952 million US dollars. China is the 4th supplier of Mauritius.  

In the cultural and educational fields, China and Mauritius signed Cultural Agreement in 1980. Since 1983, two countries sign a Two-Year Cultural Exchange Executive Program every two years. In July 1988, the Chinese Culture Center was set up in Port Louis. China has provided a certain number of scholarships to Mauritian students since 1983, which count nowadays for about ten each year. At present, among the Mauritian students studying in China, 39 enjoy scholarship offered by Chinese government.