President of Seychelles Patrick Herminie said his country, Africa's closest nation to China, can serve as a bridge to strengthen trade and cultural exchange between China and Africa.
In an interview with China Media Group aired Friday, Herminie stressed that Seychelles holds a strategic position in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), enabling China and Africa to launch deeper cooperation through the island nation.
"Definitely, it can be a bridge. And from there you can have the exportation of cultures and trade between China and Africa via Seychelles. I think we are a very important link in that new Silk Road initiative (Belt and Road Initiative), where we are based. And from Seychelles, we can launch so many things to Africa and vice versa, from Africa, Seychelles to China. I think we are strategically placed for that," he said.
Seychelles is an archipelagic country located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of the African continent. It is renowned worldwide for its natural beauty, unique ecological environment, and rich and diverse culture.
President of Seychelles highlights role as bridge in Africa-China cooperation
President of Seychelles highlights role as bridge in Africa-China cooperation
China's fast development over the past decades has significantly transformed the society, said Patrick Herminie, president of the Republic of Seychelles, as he recalled his first visit to the country about 35 years ago.
Herminie made the comments in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Seychelles' capital Victoria, which was aired on Friday.
He spoke highly of the development China has achieved over the past three decades, especially in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence.
"I was surprised, I was impressed by the level of development, technological development and the use of artificial intelligence for better public service, smart services. I think China is leading the world. That's my personal opinion. You know, when I first visited China some 35 years ago, there were only bicycles. But today, China is just incredible -- the roads, the cars. It's a revolution, it's not even a revolution, it's a transformation of a society. And I think, yes, you have done very well, and I was very impressed with what I saw," said Herminie.
China has remained the world's second-largest economy for more than a decade and developed the largest middle-income group, while overall living standards have continued to rise.
The country is also driving continuous breakthroughs in frontier technologies, fostering the development of future industries as part of efforts to cultivate new growth engines.
China's fast development over past decades transforms society: President of Seychelles
