Seychelles Consulate General in Shanghai officially opened by Minister for Foreign Affairs further consolidating excellent China- Seychelles relationship

Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam officially opened the Consulate General of the Republic of Seychelles in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China (PRC) further promoting the excellent Sino-Seychellois relationship.
The Consulate General will have jurisdiction over Shanghai itself and the provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.
In his remarks Minister Adam extended his gratitude to the Government of the PRC, and to the Shanghai Municipal Government, which facilitated the proposal to open the Consulate General.
The Minister also thanked the Seychelles Resident Ambassador in the PRC, ambassador Philippe Le Gall and the Acting Head of the Consulate General in Shanghai, Dr Sidney To, who were both instrumental in the process of the establishment of the Consulate General.
Minister Adam remarked that in 2007 when Seychelles opened an Embassy in Beijing, and it’s Honorary Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, visitor arrivals to Seychelles from the PRC counted barely one thousand. Last month Seychelles welcomed it’s 10000th visitor, which the Minister regarded as a significant figure, adding to the tourism industry of Seychelles. The Minister highlighted the joint efforts of the Seychelles Embassy in the PRC, together with STB and the tourism trade in Seychelles as instrumental in the drive towards this rapid improvement.?
In the same vein, Minister Adam highlighted that many Seychellois now travel to Shanghai following the visa waiver agreement signed between the two countries allowing Seychellois visa free access to China for stays up to one month, and the city is viewed as both an economic and cultural hub by Seychellois who readily travel there for both leisure and business.
In his remarks, Minister Adam stressed, “Seychelles is not only a magnificent and totally safe tourist destination, among the most beautiful in the world, but also a peaceful, stable and competitive access gate to Africa and its huge market and economic resources.”
Minister Adam underscored the special relationship that Seychelles shared with the PRC and with Shanghai in particular, since partaking in the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and donating a pair of giant tortoises to Shanghai Zoo, symbolic of the longstanding friendship with the country.
Mr. Jin Xingming, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government delivered remarks on behalf of the People’s Republic of China and wished the new consulate every success.
Minister Adam noted that there were currently ten Seychellois students hosted in various Universities in Shanghai and other provinces that fell under the city’s jurisdiction that was testimony to the rapport between the countries.
The Minister officially opened the Consulate General in the presence of Dr Sidney To, Acting Head of the Consulate General of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr Philippe Le Gall, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the PRC, Mr Hanscom Smith, Consul General of the United States in Shanghai, Mr Jin Xingming, Deputy Secretary General of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Ms Zhuang Youhua, Chief Executive of the Seychelles-China Friendship and Business Association and also in the presence of Seychellois Students currently studying in Shanghai.