Editing Mauritius (section)

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Mauritius}}

[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018, in London on April 19, 2018 (2).JPG|thumb|left|Prime Minister [[Pravind Jugnauth]] with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], 19 April 2018]]

Mauritius has strong and friendly relations with various African, American, Asian, European and Oceanic countries. Considered part of Africa geographically, Mauritius has friendly relations with African states in the region, particularly [[South Africa]], by far its largest continental trading partner. Mauritian investors are gradually entering African markets, notably Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The country's political heritage and dependence on Western markets have led to close ties with the [[European Union]] and its member states, particularly France. Relations with India are very strong for both historical and commercial reasons. Mauritius established diplomatic relations with China in April 1972 and was forced to defend this decision, along with naval contracts with the USSR in the same year. It has also been extending its Middle East outreach with the setting up of an embassy in Saudi Arabia<ref>{{Cite web|title=Embassy of the Republic of Mauritius – Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|url=https://foreign.govmu.org/Pages/Embassies%20and%20Consulates/Mauritius%20Diplomatic%20Missions%20Overseas/EMBASSY-OF-THE-REPUBLIC-OF-MAURITIUS---RIYADH,-KINGDOM-OF-SAUDI-ARABIA.aspx|access-date=19 October 2020|website=foreign.govmu.org}}</ref> whose Ambassador also doubles as the country's ambassador to Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Presentation of Credentials of Ambassador Showkutally Soodhun, GCSK to the Kingdom of Bahrain|url=https://foreign.govmu.org/Pages/readmorenews.aspx?n=Presentation-of-Credentials-of-Ambassador-Showkutally-Soodhun,-GCSK-to-the-Kingdom-of-Bahrain.aspx|access-date=19 October 2020|website=foreign.govmu.org|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade}}</ref>

Mauritius is a member of the United Nations, the [[World Trade Organization]], the [[African Union]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], [[La Francophonie]], the [[Southern Africa Development Community]], the [[Indian Ocean Commission]], the [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]], and the [[Indian Ocean Rim Association]].