VICTORIA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The relations between Seychelles and China are now entering a new era of cooperation and development, particularly in cultural exchanges, Seychelles' Minister for Tourism and Culture Amanda Bernstein has said.
"Our relationship has gone from strength to strength. China has always been a strong partner for Seychelles," Bernstein recently told Xinhua in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles.
As the first African country to sign the agreement on mutual exemption of visa requirements with China, Seychelles, with its unique natural beauty and Creole culture, has seen growing interest from Chinese tourists in recent years, offering a distinctive travel experience while leaving significant room for expanding bilateral exchanges, the minister said.
As 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Bernstein highlighted tourism as "the truest form of diplomacy," which enables people from different countries to "experience each other's cultures authentically," thereby fostering mutual understanding and advancing bilateral ties.
The minister said that one of her priorities is to bring the people of Seychelles and China closer together and promote mutual learning, adding that boosting Seychelles-China ties will not only benefit tourism development, but also facilitate bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
The closer the people of the two countries are brought together, the more they will benefit and the stronger their appreciation and understanding of each other's cultures will become, Bernstein said.
Since Seychelles is a small island developing state facing various challenges such as climate change and environmental pressures, the minister said the country remains committed to developing its tourism industry "in a very sustainable way" while safeguarding its resources and avoiding overexploitation.
"Sustainability is at the heart of all our policy decisions when it comes to tourism," Bernstein said, adding that the country looks forward to reinforcing cooperation with partners, including China, in support of its development goals.
According to the minister, Seychelles and China have achieved tangible outcomes through cooperation on diverse initiatives, including cultural preservation as well as environmental and infrastructure projects. The potential for bilateral cooperation extends beyond traditional leisure tourism to areas such as eco-tourism.
As the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Tuesday, Bernstein expressed her optimism about the next 50 years of bilateral relations.
"I'm very confident that over the next 50 years of this great relationship, we will continue to see it strengthen," she said. ■