An official delegation headed by Simon Gill, United Seychelles Party Whip and a member of the National Executive Committee, visited Zhongshan on July 1. Chen Wenfeng, Vice Secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee, met with the 22-man delegation. Both parties exchanged views on continuing to enhance friendship and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various sectors.

During the meeting, Chen briefed the delegation on the economic and social development of Zhongshan and exchanges and cooperation between Zhongshan and Seychelles.

China and Seychelles have maintained close exchanges in recent years and developed cooperation in such areas as tourism, infrastructure and marine economy. Chen hoped that Zhongshan and Seychelles could further strengthen and promote friendly exchanges, increase understanding, expand consensus, and deepen cooperation.

Simon Gill said the visit was aimed at understanding the overall development of Zhongshan, investigating Zhongshan's companies that plan to invest in Africa, and Zhongshan's experience and achievements in women and children's support.

As an archipelago country located in the Indian Ocean in East Africa, the Republic of Seychelles has farming and fishing as its main industries, thereby enjoying the reputation of a "tourist paradise".