Visiting top Chinese legislator Li Peng attended the ceremony to hand over to the Mauritian government a recreation center built with Chinese aid for senior citizens and disabled people in Port Lous on November 16.

At the ceremony, Li exchanged hand-over documents with Mauritian Acting Prime Minister Rajkeswur Purryag, to the loud applause of 200 representatives of senior citizens from across the Indian Ocean island country.

The center, located at Pointe-aux-Sables, a seaside village in the northwest of the island, is a complex of two-story houses linked by corridors and facilitated by bedrooms to house 160 people, a multi- functional hall, a parking lot as well as basketball and volleyball grounds.

Ved Prakash Bundhun, Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare, expressed thanks to Li for China's financial aid and construction team, calling the center, the first of its kind for senior citizens on the island, up to international standards.

The center would play an important role in the leisure time of the retired, he said, adding that it is a pride of Mauritian senior citizens.

Parmanan Kirbuah, a representative of senior citizens and a member of Bel Air Senior Citizens Association, called the center a very good one, adding that he would often come to enjoy it when it opens to the public.

"We thank China for providing the aid," he said.

Chinese ambassador to Mauritius Xia Shouan said the completion of the center this year is of special significance as 1999 is the international year of senior citizens. He called the center another milestone in Sino- Mauritian co-operation.

After the ceremony, Li was shown around the center.

Li, who arrived here Monday evening for a two-day official goodwill visit, is to call on Mauritian President Cassam Uteem and meet with Ramesh Jeewoolall, Speaker of the National Assembly, later Tuesday.

Mauritius is the first leg of Li's six-nation Africa and Asia tour. After concluding his visit here, Li will proceed to South Africa, Kenya, Israel, Palestine and Oman.