Wang Yi commends Seychelles' firm one-China stance

Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday commended Seychelles for revoking flight permission for Lai Ching-te, a leading figure of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and for publicly stating its firm commitment to the one-China principle.

Wang made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Barry Faure, Seychelles' minister of foreign affairs and diaspora, who is on a two-day official visit to China starting Monday.

Wang said the Seychelles government, together with the governments of several friendly countries, recently revoked Lai's flight permission in accordance with law and regulations, in an open and aboveboard manner.

The one-China principle has long been an international consensus, and the authority of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no challenge, Wang said, adding that China will eventually achieve complete reunification and Taiwan will surely return to the embrace of the motherland.

He expressed confidence that more countries will, like Seychelles, stand on the side of international justice and on the right side of history.

Describing Seychelles as China's trustworthy, good friend and partner in Africa and the Indian Ocean, Wang noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

China is ready to work with Seychelles to take the anniversary as an opportunity to advance cooperation in digital economy, marine economy, island economy and green economy, and to push their strategic partnership to a higher level, he said.

Noting that Seychelles is an important member of the African region, Wang said China stands ready, through the full implementation of its zero-tariff policy for imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, to create more development opportunities for African countries, including Seychelles.

Faure reaffirmed Seychelles' adherence to the one-China principle and expressed sincere gratitude for China's important support for the country's economic and social development.

He said Seychelles supports the four global initiatives proposed by China and looks forward to making full use of the zero-tariff policy to benefit its people.

Seychelles is ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, jointly uphold multilateralism and promote greater development of their strategic partnership, he added.