Victoria and Guangzhou to deepen ties |27 November 2015

Ties between Victoria and the Chinese city of Guangzhou look set to be strengthened.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two cities.

This is the third MoU signed between Victoria and a city in China. Previous MoUs on strengthening cooperation have been signed with Haikou and Shanghai.

“Together Victoria and Guangzhou will strive to foster educational exchanges, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic growth through our new Sister-City relationship. We look forward to this new chapter in the exceptional bilateral relations which China and Seychelles share as this agreement speaks of the unique historical ties which unite Seychelles with the Guangdong province,” said the Mayor of Victoria, Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, after she had signed the MoU.

The MOU was signed in Guangzhou, on November 12  between Mrs Moustache-Belle and Mr. Chen Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou Municipality, People's Republic of China.

“More than 150 years ago, the first Chinese migrants, originating from Guangdong province, settled in Seychelles and have since been playing a key role in defining the very fabric of our society,” noted Mrs Moustache-Belle.

The MoU on strengthening cooperation between Victoria and Guangzhou will enable both cities to identify activities that can generate new initiatives to further nurture the economic, social and cultural ties which Seychelles and China share.