President Hu Jintao on Friday began a state visit to
Seychelles on the last leg of his eight-nation African tour, and is
to hold talks with the Seychellois president on expanding
mutually-beneficial cooperation.
In a written statement released at the airport upon his arrival,
Hu described Seychelles as "a shining pearl in the Indian
Ocean."
In recent years, under the leadership of President James Alix
Michel, Hu said, the Seychellois government has steadily advanced
reform, developed tourism, worked to improve people's living
standards and actively pursued international cooperation, achieving
remarkable success.
During the past 30 years of diplomatic ties, China and
Seychelles have treated each other with respect and equality, and
have made steady progress in their pragmatic cooperation in all
fields, he added.
"I look forward to exchanging views with President James Alix
Michel on bilateral relations and other major issues of mutual
interest," he said. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday.
Hu's current trip to Africa has already taken him to Cameroon,
Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique.
(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2007)
