Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Seychellois President James Alix Michel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 3, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

China, Seychelles to facilitate trade

    BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Seychelles Friday agreed to expand cooperation in fishery, tourism and infrastructure and to further their relationship, according to consensus reached Friday at a meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and Seychellois President James Alix Michel.

    Michel, who is in the Chinese capital on a state visit, will attend the two-day Beijing Summit of Forum on China-African Cooperation slated to start Saturday.

    Seychelles forged diplomatic ties with China the second day it declared independence and have granted China support on the Taiwanissue.

    "The Sino-Seychellois relations enjoy solid foundation and develop well," Wen said, urging both sides to strengthen high-level exchanges, coordinate more closely in global affairs, and cement collaboration in fishing, processing, port construction and trade.

    Seychelles, a country made up of 115 islets with more than half of its territory being nature reserve, is one of China's outbound tourist destinations. "China will encourage more Chinese to go sightseeing there," Wen said.

    Michel said it was a "political will" of the Seychellois government to strengthen friendly cooperation with the Chinese government.

    Promising to firmly stick to the one-China policy, Michel said Seychelles hoped to bring collaboration to a higher level and wished China realize its reunification cause as early as possible.

    After the summit, Michel is to visit Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, and Haikou, capital of the southernmost island province of Hainan.

    Bilateral trade has been growing rapidly, with trade volume totaling 3.41 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

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