Former President Mancham on goodwill visit to China |18 September 2014

Former President James R. Mancham and Mrs Mancham will be leaving Seychelles on Friday September 19 on an eight-day goodwill visit to China as guests of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

In an invitation letter dated August 22, 2014, Qiu Yuanping, Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council states: "Your achievements in promoting the development of Sino-Seychelles relationship have won admiration from people of both countries. I believe that this visit will enhance our friendship and mutual understanding and promote the exchange of cooperation between the two countries."

In July this year, former President Mancham was a keynote speaker at the 4th Huatuo CEO Forum in Guangzhou, China which was attended by over 2,500 Chinese business leaders and hosted by Yan Jiehe, one of China's most successful entrepreneurs, who is the founder and majority owner of China's leading construction company – The China Pacific Construction Group.

At that forum which saw Mr Mancham sharing the stage with former US President Bill Clinton, UK's former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Australia's former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Mr Mancham called on China to advance and support the policy of 'right is might' and become the nation which wins the peace.

In a statement yesterday morning, the former President said this coming visit will provide the opportunity of a break from the heavy workload surrounding the publication and launch of his new book, SEYCHELLES – The saga of a small nation navigating the cross-currents of a big world, and will provide his wife and himself with the pleasure of discovering the historic city of Nanjing and the beautiful countryside of the Jiangsu Province before heading for Beijing.

"I am grateful to my friend, HE Ambassador Shi Zhongjun for liaising with the Chinese Overseas Affairs Office for organising a comprehensive and what looks like an exciting programme for this goodwill visit," Mr Mancham said.

From China, the former President will be heading for Savannah, Georgia, USA, to take part in the 2014 Ocean Exchange Forum. As a member of Le Club de Madrid, Mr Mancham will take the opportunity to deplore the recent decision taken by the organisers of the G20 Summit which brings together the world's leading powers, at their next meeting in Brisbane, Australia in November, not to include the issue of 'climate change' on their agenda.

"While the G20 exercises in France, Mexico and Russia allowed the issue to be discussed and debated, the decision not to consider the subject at this year's summit is disappointing news for nations like Seychelles which are affected by climate change. We must embark on all possible initiatives to get the subject urgently back on the agenda," Mr Mancham said.