Seychelles

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, the friendly and cooperative relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Seychelles maintained good momentum.

The two countries had frequent high-level political exchanges. In April and July, Seychellois President James Alix Michel sent separate messages of sympathy to President Xi Jinping over the earthquake in Sichuan Province and flood in northeast China. In May, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng visited Seychelles. He met with President Michel, Vice President Danny Faure and Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam, with whom he signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements. In July, Seychellois Foreign Minister Adam visited China. He had talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and they signed the Agreement Between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles on the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism. In August, Andre Pool, Deputy Speaker of Seychellois National Assembly and Chairperson of its International Affairs Committee, visited China.

Significant results were achieved in bilateral business cooperation. The construction of "Palais de Justice" and expansion of the Anse Royale Hospital were completed with China's assistance and handed over to Seychelles. Five ambulances donated by China arrived in Seychelles and were put into use. Micro and small-sized community projects implemented with China's assistance, including water drains, bus stations and pedestrian pavements, were well received by local people. In February, the Red Cross Society of China donated US$20,000 to Seychelles for flood relief.

Military cooperation was further enhanced. In June, an escort fleet of the Chinese Navy called at the Port of Victoria for replenishment and paid a formal visit to Seychelles. The fleet hosted a reception on deck and a public open day. It sent an infantry square formation to join the Seychellois National Day parade at its invitation.

Cooperation in other fields advanced smoothly. Shanghai and Victoria signed a sister city agreement. China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Seychellois Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance cooperation and exchanges on library, dancing and chorus. Shanghai Institute of Tourism and Seychelles Tourism Academy signed an MOU on educational cooperation for training of teachers and student exchanges. In March, Seychelles opened a direct flight to Hong Kong.