Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 12, 2002
Seychelles Reiterates One China Stand
The Seychelles government will continue to adhere to One China Policy and support China's grand cause of reunification, Seychelles Designated Minister Joseph Belmont said in Victoria Wednesday.
The Seychelles government will continue to adhere to One China Policy and support China's grand cause of reunification, Seychelles Designated Minister Joseph Belmont said in Victoria Wednesday.
Belmont, who is also minister of Land Use and Habitat, made the remarks while meeting visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Zonghuai.
The minister spoke highly of the existing bilateral relations between Seychelles and China, and thanked the Chinese government for its selfless support to Seychelles over a long period of time,hoping that the two countries will further their economic and technical cooperation.
He also expressed his congratulations to Qiao on Shanghai's winning the bid to host the 2010 World Exposition Fair.
Qiao said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations 26 years ago, relations between the two countries have been developing in a smooth manner on the basis of mutual respect,equality and mutual benefits.
The two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in many fields, he said, adding that in international affairs, they have common understanding and support each other.
"The Chinese government has always maintained that all countries are equal members of the international community, no matter they are big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak," he said.
Qiao spoke highly of the Seychelles government's long-term stand of adhering to One China Policy, and he also thanked Seychelles' support to Shanghai's bid to host the 2010 World Exposition Fair.
He said that China is willing to continue its efforts with Seychelles to push the existing friendly cooperative ties between the two countries to a new high.
Also on Wednesday, Qiao held talks with Seychelles Foreign Minister Jeremie Bonnelame, and they signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation.
Qiao arrived here Tuesday at the invitation of the Seychelles Foreign Ministry.
This is last leg of his four-nation tour, which has taken him to Namibia, Djibouti and the Comoros.