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Danny Faure, Seychelles minister designate and of finance, together with his family paid a visit to Beijing, Hainan and Shanghai from April 26 to May 3. He is of Chinese extraction and his great-grandmother was a Chinese who settled down in the Seychelles in the 18th century and did business there. This time he brought his four children to China to seek the root of his ancestors.

Minister Danny Faure said that this was his fifth visit to China and found that the traffic network in Beijing had made great progress, modern means of transportation had replaced numerous bicycles in the streets seen in the past. He said, Beijings air quality and environment have been notably improved and there are beautiful gardens and modern buildings everywhere. He believed that the Olympic Games would attract more foreign tourists to visit China and Chinas tourism would have a rapid development. He also hoped that the Seychelles would strengthen cooperation in tourism with China.

The Seychelles is an island country on the Indian Ocean. Its land area is 455 square kilometres and territorial waters area 400,000 square kilometres. Its main industries are tourism and fishery. In recent years its economy has developed significantly. Danny Faure said, “The Seychelles, though small, is a vigorous country with high-calibre people. Its potential should not be underestimated.” The country is reputed as a “pearl on the Indian Ocean and paradise on the earth”. With a population of only 85,000 people it receives 160,000 tourists every year. Last year about 5,000 Chinese tourists visited the country.

During their stay in China, Danny Faure and his family paid a special visit to Yihai residential quarter. Linda Wang, chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Yihai Property Holding Group, is the first Chinese private entrepreneur who has invested in Seychelles tourist sector. This year she will build there a 4-star seaside villa hotel which will be run by the Chinese side and offer Chinese meals. Danny Faure expressed his belief that after the completion of the hotel more Chinese tourists would visit his country.

Recent two years have witnessed a rapid development of China-Seychelles relations. Before 2007 among Asian countries only in Malaysia the Seychelles had set up its embassy and sent a permanent ambassador; in Beijing it only had a roving ambassador. After exchanging visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, in September 2007 the Seychelles sent its first ambassador Philippe Le Gall to China. Ambassador Philippe Le Gall accompanied Finance Minister Faure on the visit in Beijing. He is working enthusiastically to promote the relations between the two countries. He said, in the past 32 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, the people of the Seychelles greatly appreciated Chinas aid in their countrys education, infrastructure, and housing construction. Chinese watermelon was successfully planted in the Seychelles, now the people there can enjoy watermelons grown on their own land for the first time in history.

During his stay in Beijing, Danny Faure signed an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China on purchasing Chinese airplanes on preferential loans, and had contacts with the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation, the China National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation Limited and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Danny Faure and his family were very satisfied with their visit in China, particularly the children like the mascot Fuwa of the Beijing Olympic Games very much. They wish the Beijing Olympic Games success.