Xi, Seychelles' president exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of ties

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Seychelles' President Patrick Herminie on Tuesday exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In a message, Xi said that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Seychelles have consistently trusted each other, and firmly supported each other regardless of changes in the international landscape, with the friendship between the two countries remaining rock solid.

Xi said he firmly believes that as long as both sides uphold the original aspiration behind the establishment of diplomatic relations and move forward side by side, the path of China-Seychelles ties will grow even broader and the prospects for bilateral cooperation become even brighter.

Noting that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Seychelles relations, Xi said he is willing to work with Herminie to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a new starting point to carry forward the traditional friendship.

Xi also pledged joint efforts with Herminie to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation within the frameworks of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and promote common development, so as to elevate the China-Seychelles strategic partnership to higher levels, and bring greater benefits to both peoples.

Herminie, in his message, said that over the 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Seychelles-China relations have steadily developed on the basis of mutual respect, mutual trust and common development.

China has always been a valuable partner for Seychelles, providing extensive support to improve the well-being of its people and achieve the country's national development goals, he added.

Herminie said Seychelles firmly adheres to the one-China principle and stays ready to strengthen cooperation within the frameworks of the Belt and Road cooperation and the FOCAC to continuously deepen bilateral relations.