Leading Chinese politician visits President Michel |07 September 2010

Chen Zhili, a vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), was accompanied by a delegation including the committee’s environment protection and resources conservation chairman Wang Guangtao and its financial and economic affairs vice-chairperson Wu Xiaoling.

First Lady Natalie Michel was also at State House to greet Mrs Chen, who was further accompanied by the deputy secretary-general of the NPC’s Standing Committee Han Xiaowu and the vice-chairperson of the standing committee of Guangdong Provincial People’s Congress Chen Xiaochuan.

Chinese ambassador to Seychelles Wang Weiguo also accompanied Mrs Chen on her series of visits.
During her tour of the National Assembly building at Ile du Port, she met speaker Patrick Herminie, deputy speaker Wilby Lucas and other assembly committee members.

Dr Herminie said that during their meeting they discussed the strong relationship between China and Seychelles and between the two parliaments.

“We both agreed that there is a need to further strengthen this bond, especially when it comes to exchange visits from members of both parliaments,” he said.

He added that a delegation from the assembly’s International Affairs Committee is now in China signing a memorandum of understanding on various issues. And he recalled that top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo visited Seychelles two years ago when the assembly building was still under construction.

Dr Herminie said he asked during yesterday’s visit for help with maintenance of the assembly building, and China has agreed to extend its contract.

“They have agreed to train the local contractors during the extra one year they are here so they can maintain the building later on,” he said, adding that Mrs Chen is very satisfied with the building.

She and her delegation arrived here on Sunday and are expected to leave the country today.