Relations with China
Bilateral political relations
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Seychelles on June 30, 1976, the relations between the two countries have developed smoothly. Successive governments of Seychelles have attached importance to the development of relations with China, adhered to the one-China policy and appreciated our assistance. Since President Michel came to power, he has repeatedly expressed his willingness to actively expand friendly cooperation with China in various fields.
In 2011, Seychelles invited China to set up a military base on Mahe Island to strengthen the fight against piracy. China responded by saying that it would consider resupplying or resting at suitable ports in Seychelles and other countries.
From May 5 to May 6, 2013, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng visited Seychelles and signed a visa waiver agreement between the two countries on behalf of the Chinese government and the Seychellois side.
Economic and trade relations and economic and technical cooperation
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Seychelles economic and technical cooperation and economic and trade exchanges have continued to develop. China and Serbia have signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, an agreement on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion (August 1999) and so on. Since 1977, China has been providing various kinds of assistance to Serbia. It has built more than 30 projects, including the National Swimming Pool, the Comprehensive Craft College, the Montfleury High School, the Bureau of Standards Building, the Lazare Bay Primary School and Kindergarten, the Parliament Building and the Ocampo District Primary School, for the benefit of Serbia.
In 2011, bilateral trade amounted to 35.331 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 137.6%, of which China exported 35.009 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 135.7%, and imports of 0.32 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year rise of 26.5 times. 2012 January-October, the bilateral trade volume of 28.53 million U.S. dollars, a year-on-year decline of 3.2%. China's main exports to Serbia are electromechanical products, furniture, textiles and garments, plastic products, etc., mainly imported seafood.
Exchanges and cooperation in culture, education and health
The two countries have signed a cultural cooperation agreement (1983). The Chinese side has sent sports coaches and music teachers to Serbia to teach. A number of cultural and artistic troupes have visited and performed in Serbia, and have also organized movie weeks and photo exhibitions in the country.
As of September 2011, the Chinese side ****had received 95 scholarship students from Serbia, and there were 59 international students ****in 2011-2012 in China. China has sent sports coaches and music teachers to Serbia. Since 1985, China has sent medical teams to Serbia, ****14 batches of 84 persons. Currently, 6 medical team members are working in Serbia. So far, China has trained 683 people of various kinds, and sent 3 batches***34 young volunteers and 2 agricultural experts to Serbia.
Serbia is a destination country for Chinese citizens traveling out of China, and the number of Chinese citizens traveling to Serbia in 2012 exceeded 2,000, a year-on-year increase of 111%. 2009, Serbia presented a pair of Serbian unique Yadabra tortoises to the Shanghai Municipal Government to express support for the Shanghai World Expo. 2012, Serbia once again presented a pair of Yadabra tortoises to the Chinese side, which were settled in the Beijing Zoo.
Seychelles is a destination country for Chinese citizens traveling out of the country, in 1998, Victoria and China's Guangdong Province, Meizhou City as a friendly city; in 2007, Victoria and China's Hainan Province, Haikou City as a friendly city.
Relations with France
Seychelles and France have traditional relations. France is a major aid donor and important trading partner of Seychelles. France provides assistance to Seychelles mainly in the fields of fisheries, agriculture, health, tourism, education, radio and television broadcasting and personnel training. In 2002, the French government reformed the cooperation and development program and no longer listed Seychelles as a "priority aid country" and suspended its direct assistance to Seychelles, but continued to cooperate with Seychelles in the fields of culture, science and technology, etc. In May 2004, a delegation of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Marseille visited Seychelles. In March 2007, the French Minister of Cooperation and Development visited Senegal and signed an agreement on the promotion and protection of bilateral investments and an agreement on training and employment in tourism, and in October, President Michel paid a working visit to France. In March 2008, the 13th Festival of French Language and Culture was held in Seychelles.
Relations with the United Kingdom
Seychelles is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The United Kingdom is an important trading partner of Seychelles. The British aid to Seychelles amounts to about 1 million pounds per year, mainly for the provision of technical assistance and scholarships. President René has visited Britain four times. In March, the United Kingdom funded the fight against Somali piracy, and in May, Prince William and his wife went to Serbia for their honeymoon; in early 2012, President Michel attended the International Anti-Piracy Conference in London and visited the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)*** donated five additional passenger and cargo vehicles to Serbia.
Relations with the United States
Seattle-United States relations had been relatively cold due to U.S. dissatisfaction with the prolonged one-party rule of the Seychelles People's Front. In September 1996, the U.S. closed its embassy in Seychelles, leaving the U.S. embassy in Mauritius in charge of Seychelles-related matters. in October, the U.S. closed the satellite tracking station but continued to provide assistance to Seychelles. in September 2004, the U.S. commander of the Central Theater of Operations and a team of military-legal experts visited Seychelles. in January 2007, the U.S. army built an airfield for the Seychelles island of Prahran, and the U.S. army built an airfield for the Seychelles island of Puntland. In January 2007, the U.S. military completed the handover of a modernized clinic and a morgue on the island of Praslin, and in July 2009, the U.S. and Serbia signed an agreement on the protection of military forces, which allowed U.S. warships to berth and resupply in the port of Victoria, and in July 2010, the U.S. and Serbia signed an agreement on the transfer of suspected pirates, which stated that the two sides would strengthen their cooperation in the fight against piracy, illegal fishing, and drug smuggling.
Relations with India
Serbian-Indian relations are strong, with people of Indian descent and diaspora leading the list of foreign nationals residing in Serbia. Serbia has not openly criticized India's nuclear tests, has supported India's position on Kashmir, and has supported India's permanent membership in the Security Council. 2004 saw a number of Indian warships dock at Port Victoria for refueling, and in February 2008 Serbia's first High Commissioner to India presented his credentials to the President. In March, the third Serbian-Indian joint military exercise on counter-terrorism was held in Senegal, and in May, two guided-missile destroyers from the Indian Navy visited Senegal. in July 2009, Senegal and India signed an agreement on the promotion and protection of investment between the two countries. in January 2010, Senegalese President Michelle visited India. The two sides discussed cooperation between the two countries in the medical, military, aviation and other fields. India pledged to provide advanced equipment to the Victoria Hospital of Senegal and a maritime security adviser and military equipment to the Government of Senegal. In the same month, Serbian Speaker of Parliament Herminier attended the 26th Commonwealth Speakers of Parliament Conference held in New Delhi.In June, Serbian President Michel visited India. India announced that it had reached a debt restructuring agreement with Senegal, and that the Export-Import Bank of India would forgive 45 percent of Senegal's debt, or about US$1.375 million, as part of a loan to support Senegal's economic reforms and debt restructuring. India will also provide $10 million in concessional loans to Senegal. in November, Senegal opened direct flights to Chennai, India. in February 2011, President Michel visited India and India forgave Senegal's debt of $1.375 million in commercial loans. in June, India sent a patrol flight to Senegal to conduct reconnaissance of the maritime area in the Senegalese zone. in 2012, President Patil visited Senegal, and India provided Senegal with $25 million in aid and a $50 million loan. In 2012, Indian President Patil visited Senegal, and India provided Senegal with $25 million in aid and $50 million in loans. The Indian offshore patrol boats participated in the National Day parade.
Relations with UAE
Serbia and UAE have close relations. in 2011, UAE provided 5 patrol boats and financed the construction of hospitals, outpatient centers, housing and a wind power plant. in 2012, UAE-supported National Defense Academy was completed. In 2012, the construction of the National Defense College was completed with the assistance of Albania, and in 2012, Albania presented a gift box of stationery to primary school students across the country.
Relations with South Africa
In April 1992, Senegal established diplomatic relations with South Africa. South Africa had compensated Senegal $3 million for its mercenary invasion of Senegal in 1981 and proposed to invest Rs 50 million in Senegal to help it develop fisheries processing and small industrial projects. South Africa is now one of the main trading partners of Senegal. 2004 April, Senegalese Foreign Minister Bonnelame attended the inauguration ceremony of South African President Mbeki's reelection. 2007 January, Senegalese Foreign Minister Pillay and South African Foreign Minister Zuma signed an agreement on comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in which the two countries decided to set up a mixed committee that will meet every two years to discuss the promotion of bilateral cooperation. 2008 July, South Africa provided $3.6 million to Senegal in the form of a non-refundable loan.
The two countries signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2008, to establish a mixed commission to promote bilateral cooperation every two years.
Relations with the European Union
The two sides signed the Cotonou Agreement in 2000. EU aid is mainly used to support the Serbian budget, cooperation between the two sides in the fishing industry, infrastructure development, solid waste disposal, and the government's governance and fight against piracy. 2008-2012 the EU*** invested 37 million euros in Senegal. 2009 November, the British High Commissioner in Senegal, on behalf of the EU, signed the agreement on the status of military personnel, which provides all kinds of facilitation for the EU Naval Forces and related personnel to hunt down, arrest, and detain pirates who have entered the Senegalese territorial waters and internal waters. In May 2010, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Ashton, visited Serbia and attended an international conference on Somali piracy in Serbia. A new three-year tuna fishing agreement was signed between the European Union and Serbia, and in 2011 Serbian exports to the European Union amounted to more than 3 billion euros, with canned tuna and chilled fish as the main products. Serbian imports from the EU include machinery, automobiles and medical chemicals. 2012 saw the signing of an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement, which will see Serbian exports to the EU continue to be tariff-free.
Relations with neighboring countries
Serbia attaches importance to the development of relations with neighboring countries such as Mauritius and Madagascar. On June 17, 1988, diplomatic relations were established between Senegal and Mauritius. The two sides had a dispute over the ownership of the sea area of Shaya Mara sandbar, but after consultation, they agreed *** to develop the sea area together.In March 2004, a delegation from the Black River district of Mauritius visited Senegal and signed a sister city cooperation agreement with the Anse-Bouilhou district of Senegal.In December, Prime Minister Bélanger of Mauritius visited Senegal. The two sides signed memorandums of understanding on combating the drug trade, cooperation in tourism and cooperation between the two countries' chambers of commerce and industry. in January 2007, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Senegal, Mr. Esperanza Esperanza, visited Senegal. in May 2008, the Chairman of the Court of Appeal of Senegal, Mr. MacGregor, led a judicial delegation to visit Senegal. in July, Senegalese Minister of National Development, Mr. Dugassi, and Senegalese Chief Prosecutor, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mr. Valey Vallerton, signed an agreement on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zones of their countries. In the same month, a friendship agreement was signed between the islands of Serra daigue and Rodrigues, and in February 2011, the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravin Jugnauth, visited the country and attended the ninth meeting of the Joint Commission of the two countries, at which the two sides signed a revised version of the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. in March 2011, the ninth meeting of the Bilateral Cooperation Committee was held between the two countries. in March 2012, President Michel travelled to Mauritius to celebrate the forty-fourth anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Mauritius. In March 2012, President Michel went to Mauritius to attend the 44th anniversary of Mao's independence. in June, Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam visited Senegal and attended the Senegalese National Day ceremony.
Serbia and Madagascar established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1989, and have friendly relations. 1990, Serbia and Madagascar signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of oil and natural gas. 2002, as the rotating chair of the Indo-Chinese Commission (ICC), Serbia actively participated in the international community's mediation of the political crisis on the island of Madagascar. 2007, January, Serbia's Foreign Minister Pillay attended the re-election ceremony for the President of the Republic of Madagascar, Mr. Ravalomanana. 2007, August, President Michel attended a meeting in Madagascar. In August, President Michel was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Countries Games held in Ma and paid a visit to Ma. In July 2012, President Michel and President Zuma of South Africa hosted the peace talks between the leaders of Ma's transitional regime, Rajoelina and Ravalomanana, in the same place as President Zuma of South Africa in Sai***.
In June 2011, Tanzanian President Kikwete visited Senegal. During the year, Senegal signed double taxation agreements with Mozambique, Kenya and Malawi.
In March 2008, the annual meeting of the Indian Ocean countries was held in Senegal. The meeting mainly discussed issues such as exploration and utilization of resources in the Indian Ocean, environmental protection, and the integration process of the Indian Ocean countries. In the same month, the 24th Ministerial Meeting of the Indian Ocean States was held in Senegal, with the participation of Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar and French Réunion. The meeting mainly discussed issues such as information, transportation, aviation, energy, tourism, food security, fisheries and environmental protection.
In 2011, Serbia hosted the 8th Indian Ocean Island Games, which was attended by 1,700 athletes from seven Indian Ocean island countries and territories, including Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar, and French Réunion.
In March 2012, Serbia hosted the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the East Indian Association.
In January 2013, Serbia hosted the 28th Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission.