India doesn't see ties as transactions but as enduring bonds: Jaishankar in Mauritius

Port Louis: India does not see ties as transactions but as "enduring bonds" and the country will "always stand" with Mauritius as a trusted partner, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Friday.

The minister, addressing an event, also said the world is today going through a period of "deep turbulence and uncertainty" and asserted that in such times, "partnerships like ours become more important".

Jaishankar, who is in Mauritius to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, inaugurated a renal transplant unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that Mauritius is not a partner; Mauritius is part of family," said the EAM.

Sharing a message from Modi, Jaishankar said, "Ye 'dil ka rishta' hai, one that is not just reflected in words, but in also in meaningful action." "The inauguration of the first dedicated renal transplant unit of Mauritius is indeed a landmark achievement. It is not just a medical milestone, it is a moment of hope," the EAM said.

Listing out various initiatives, Jaishankar said, "A 100 km pipeline replacement will improve water security across the island. A new Forensic Sciences Laboratory to strengthen modern investigation capabilities. A National Archives and Library will preserve your heritage for future generations. A Mauritius Police Academy will enhance training and professionalism in law enforcement. And our e-judiciary initiative will make the legal system more efficient, transparent, and credible." Jaishankar also made a reference to the security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region and conveyed to Mauritius that "your security is our security".

"As a large ocean state, Mauritius faces unique challenges. India remains committed as a maritime partner. Our vessels from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard work alongside the Mauritian National Coast Guard in guarding your waters, and we continue to assist Mauritius in EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance, because your security is our security," he said.

"But we are also looking beyond the ocean surface, quite literally, to the skies. India and Mauritius are jointly developing a satellite, which we expect to launch very soon," he said.

"This is not just any satellite. It will carry a multi-spectral imager payload, supporting Earth observation applications across agriculture, forestry, ecosystem monitoring, weather forecasting, and coastal observation," the EAM added.

"For a country like Mauritius, with its dependence on its natural environment and its vulnerability to climate events, this kind of capability will be genuinely transformative," he said.

The EAM thanked Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam for his leadership and commitment to "strengthening this special partnership".

"The world is today going through a period of deep turbulence and uncertainty. In such times, partnerships like ours become more important. We do not see ties as transactions, but as enduring bonds. And as a trusted partner, India will always stand with Mauritius," he said.

Jaishankar in his address also underscored the centuries-old cultural ties between the two countries.

"Now, many of you I know have ancestral links with India, but what is for us truly inspiring is how these roots have grown into something uniquely Mauritian because you have not just preserved what was brought here, you have made it your own," he said.

Mauritius is a former British and French colony that gained independence from the British rule in 1968.

Under the nearly century-long French rule (in the year 1729), the first Indians were brought to Mauritius from the Puducherry region, to work as artisans and masons.

Under British rule, about half a million Indian indentured workers were brought to Mauritius between 1834 and the early 1900s. About two-thirds of these workers permanently settled down in Mauritius.

The EAM said, "As we look ahead, our goal is very clear: to work together, to grow together, and most importantly, to improve the lives of every Mauritian."