President Michel’s successful trip to China in pictures
President James Michel attended the World Expo 2010 which opened on Saturday and met Chinese President Hu Jintao and members of the State Council in Shanghai among other leaders.
During the visit, the People’s Republic of China pledged economic aid to Seychelles worth about US $6 million for development projects in areas to be agreed upon by both sides.
Seychelles supported China’s candidature to host the six-month World Expo 2010 at which 192 countries and 50 international organisations are taking part.
Mr Michel was among heads of state from around the world at the event which is the largest in the history of the World Expo.
Mr Michel and President Hu took the opportunity to further build on the excellent relations between China and Seychelles and exchanged ideas on subjects of mutual importance including the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.
President Hu said he would look into the possibility of helping Seychelles get a new ship for anti-piracy patrol and called for more efforts to promote exchanges between China and Seychelles in the fields of culture and education. He pledged 52 scholarships for Seychellois students for the 2010-2011 period.
Among the other leaders Mr Michel met was the Vice-Mayor of Shanghai Tang Dengjie.
The President thanked Mr Dengjie for the warm hospitality of the People of Shanghai, commending the city’s leadership and people for their tremendous achievement in transforming Shanghai and the resounding success of the official opening of the World Expo.
President Michel also met the Vice Governor of Guandong Province Zhu Xiao Dan who said despite the world financial crisis, trade between Seychelles and the province has increased by 16%.
Mr Michel opened Seychelles pavilion where he invited guests to share “Seychelles exception” and stressed the need to people to live in harmony with nature.
President Michel also met some of the Seychellois students studying in China who were helping with the Seychelles’ stand at the Expo.
He was accompanied by the principal secretary for foreign affairs Barry Faure, the ambassador of Seychelles to China Philippe Le Gall and the Seychelles Tourism Board’s marketing director Alain St Ange.
We have published a selection of pictures from the trip.
