Seychelles president meets Chinese state councilor on relations

Seychelles President James Michel Wednesday met with visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, and the two agreed to boost bilateral relations.

President James Michel said Seychelles-China ties are a model for bilateral relations in the world.

Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the island country located in the Indian Ocean about 1,500 km east of mainland Africa three years ago significantly pushed forward bilateral ties, and the Seychelles people will forever remember the historic event, Michel said.

The Seychelles side sincerely thanked China for its strong support for its economic development, he said.

Michel said Seychelles would continue to stick to the one-China policy, and back China's just cause of peaceful unification.

Seychelles is willing to further develop its special and close friendship and partnership with China, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, he said.

The president said his nation also is willing to increase people-to-people exchanges, regards itself as the gate and bridge for China to Africa, and aims to positively move forward China-Africa ties.

Dai said he was happy to see different ethnic groups in Seychelles live in harmony, and the Seychelles people have made new achievements in economic and social development.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976, China-Seychelles relations have developed healthily and steadily, Dai said, adding that high-level officials of the two countries, particularly in recent years, have frequently conducted mutual visits and energetically boosted bilateral ties.

Dai said China will continue to provide assistance for Seychelles within its capacity, and timely complete their cooperative programs within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum or being agreed to by the two countries.

Source:Xinhua

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