Seychelles-China Day celebrations: Bringing Chinese culture to the fore |23 January 2014

The official programme of the first Seychelles-China Day celebrations which is expected to bring the Chinese culture to the fore in Seychelles was officially unveiled this week by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange.

This took place during a press conference in Minister St Ange’s office in the presence of Chinese ambassador to Seychelles Shi Zhongjun, chairman of the Chinese Association in Seychelles Charlie Ng Ping Cheun, principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune, principal secretary for culture Benjamine Rose and Vincent Kim Koon, a member of the Chinese Associaton.

The activities on the programme will run from January 30 to February 2, 2014 and will see the participation of both Chinese and Seychellois nationals.

In a short address to launch the programme, Minster St Ange said it was a very important moment for his ministry because after discussions with the Chinese embassy and the local Chinese community, they have finally accepted the programme for the first ever Seychelles-China Day celebrations in Seychelles.

“It is important because we are also, for the first time in our history, marking the five branches of what make us the Seychellois Creole people that we are. For many many years we have celebrated La Francophonie, the Commonwealth, the FetAfrik, the Festival Kreol which is one of our celebrations. But we have always left out China and India. Last year we had the Seychelles-India Day celebrations and now the Seychelles-China Day which is set to remain on our calendar of events from now on,” Minister St Ange noted.

For this he expressed his thanks to the Chinese embassy which he said took their appeal from day one, worked with them, rallied the local Chinese community as the ministry wanted their full involvement. He said that today his ministry is hosting an event which is not only for the Chinese community but for Seychelles where we are also respecting the cultural attachment that they have.

The minister described the programme as acceptable and opportune, where they are putting forward activities that bring the Chinese culture to life, that brings the spirit of China into Victoria.

Minister St Ange also cited one event on the programme, the Lion Dance, brought in by China but which will be performed by Seychellois trained by China, which clearly illustrate the ‘entente’ between the Chinese community and Seychellois people.

Apart from the Lion Dance, the minister talked briefly about the programme of activities itself where he mentioned the arrival of the Shanghai Jinshan Art Group which will perform for the opening ceremony at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay hotel in the evening of the opening day and The Liaoning Provincial Art Group  which will be performing at the International Conference Centre on the final day of the celebrations.

“These activities show how we can bring the Chinese culture to the fore in Seychelles as we mark this festivity,” said Minister St Ange.

He went on to say that the second day of the activities is very important to the Chinese community as they are putting the foundation stone for the Chinese pagoda.

He noted that, as the Minister for Tourism and Culture, he has on several occasions spoken about the need for the pagoda to be rebuilt.

He said the Chinese government will chip in towards the reconstruction together with the local Chinese community.

Other activities on the programme is a photo exhibition, the screening of Chinese films and food fairs. Benezet Street will be transformed into a mini Chinatown where there will be Chinese lanterns, stalls of Chinese food and Chinese artefacts in a move to bring that flavour of China in Victoria.

As for Ambassador Shi, he thanked Minister St Ange and his ministry for initiating the first ever Seychelles-China Day which he described as a very significant event.

Noting that the first Chinese settlement in Seychelles took place some 150 years ago, Ambassador Shi said the Seychellois Chinese here form an important part of the Seychelles society.
 
“The local Chinese have contributed a lot towards the socio-economic and political development of Seychelles. Their culture became part of the Creole culture. So today when we are getting ready to celebrate the first ever Seychelles-China Day, we are not only celebrating the culture of China but also the culture of Creole since the Chinese culture is part of the Creole culture. What we are doing here is to promote the Chinese element in the Creole culture,” said Ambassador Shi.

He went on to say that since Seychelles and China established relations several years ago, the exchanges between the two countries have been immense. About 8000 people from China visit Seychelles every year and the number of scholarships and short trainings offered by the Chinese government to the Seychellois people have been on the increase.

He wished that through this Seychelles-China Day more people from both China and Seychelles get to know more about each other’s countries and they will report on this event in China.
 
He also said that during his two-year stay here he has noticed that not many Seychellois people have a comprehensive knowledge of China and hope through this Seychelles-China Day this will improve.

The chairman of the Chinese Association in Seychelles, Charlie Ng Ping Cheun, thanked the Chinese embassy for its assistance in realising this day.

SEYCHELLES-CHINA DAY PROGRAMME

Thursday January 30

6pm        “Badges of Fury” movie    Deepam Cinema        Invitees/Paid Function

Friday January 31

13.00        Traditional lunch        Pagoda            Members & by invitation

17.30        Photo Exhibition        Berjaya BV Bay        Members & by invitation

18.00        Welcome by Lion Dancers    Berjaya BV Bay    

18.30        Opening address by Chairman of Chinese Association Charlie Ng Ping Cheun

                Followed by Minister St Ange, Ambassador HE Shi Zhongjun and Vice-President

Danny Faure

20.00        Dinner            Berjaya BV Bay    

21.00        Artistic show by Shanghai Jinshan Art Group during Dinner at Berjaya BV Bay

Raffle draw during the show

Saturday February 1        Open to Public

9.30-10.00    Arrival of Guests at Pagoda, Benezet Street

10.05        Laying of Foundation Stone by Chairman of Chinese Association and

Chinese Ambassador

10.10        Address by the Chairman of Chinese Association Charlie Ng Ping Cheun

               Followed by Chinese Ambassador HE Shi Zhongjun, Minister Meriton and 

Minister St Ange

10.30        Cocktail for all invitees

11.00        Opening of Pagoda Fair along Benezet Street and photo exhibition at Pagoda

19.00        Chinese film show outside Pagoda

Sunday February 2

12.00        Lion Dance, Food Fair and Musical show at ICCS Car Park    All public

15.00        Artistic show by Liaoning Provincial Art Group at ICCS Hall    By invitation

17.30        Lottery draw                    All public