President of Seychelles eyes closer ties with China through trade, tourism

President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan commended Chinese support for the development of African nations while expressing optimism about the future of trade and tourism between China and the island country.

Ramkalawan made the comments during his visit to southwest China's Sichuan Province from September 5-7, following his participation in the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing.

In Sichuan, Ramkalawan visited a major manufacturer of power generators, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and several scenic spots in the province.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) Ramkalawan said he was deeply impressed by the development of Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan.

He conveyed high hopes that the new direct charter flight linking Chengdu and Seychelles, scheduled to open in November, will significantly enhance tourism and trade between the two nations.

"We want to receive Chinese visitors. And over a couple of years we have missed you. So now we are coming back to say to the visitors of China, please do come to Seychelles where you will be warmly welcomed. And this will also improve of course not only the tourism, but with the direct flight I can see business opportunities. We will be able to export some of our products, like fresh fish products. And on the other hand, I'm sure Chengdu, in Sichuan, businesspeople will be able to explore new opportunities," said Ramkalawan.

Ramkalawan is optimistic that the cooperation between China and African nations will intensify, especially since Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed to elevate the bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China to the level of strategic relations.

Xi made the proposal while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 FOCAC summit.

"The FOCAC Summit was a success, absolute success. And China will remain the biggest partner to Africa. China has been and will be. Because China has shown interest, not only in helping African nations, but also in seeing how to help African nations explore and develop on their own. So the program has been further strengthened with all African countries who have bilateral relations with the People's Republic of China now moving one notch higher. We now have what is termed a strategic partnership agreement. And this basically means that China and Seychelles have agreed that we will continue to work together on the basis of mutual respect," said Ramkalawan.

Ramkalawan said the friendship between China and Seychelles will continue to flourish, setting a positive example for other nations in nurturing diplomatic relations.

President of Seychelles eyes closer ties with China through trade, tourism

The third part of China Media Group (CMG)'s Mid-Autumn Festival gala aired on Tuesday night blends traditional Chinese culture with international artistry in a diverse lineup, bringing the audience an unforgettable night of music performance and poetry recitation.

The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.

Themed "Moon Bright", the third part of the grand gala features an array of classic songs, reunion-themed narratives, and touching performances. Highlights include a music adaptation of the famous Chinese poem Qing Ping Diao by Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty and expression; and a middle-school chorus from the Macao Special Administrative Region, singing about their love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.

The third segment of the show also features celebrated French musician Richard Clayderman, who enchants the audience with his timeless A Comme Amour a breathtaking rendition of The Butterfly Lovers concerto. The concerto, inspired by the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a modern classic that intertwines Chinese folklore with romantic Western composition techniques.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. This year, the day fell on Tuesday (Sept 17). During the festival, families reunite, admire the moon, share the traditional festive pastry of mooncakes and light up lanterns.

Part 3 of CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala showcases diverse lineup of performances