August 28, 2013 -- President Michel was officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace this morning at the start of the first official visit by a Seychellois head of state since 1980.

Prior to the ceremony, President Michel placed wreaths at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.

Following the ceremony, the two Heads of State held bilateral discussions alongside officials from both countries, whereby President Michel emphasized on the significance of this historical occasion and thanked President Truong Tan Sang for the warm hospitality his delegation have received by the Vietnamese people.

“I am also convinced that this visit is another milestone in our two countries’ relations which will further strengthen our friendship. A friendship that goes back more than three decades, and we can look forward in building a shared future,” said President Michel during the meeting.

The discussions centered on cooperation projects and agreements between Seychelles and Vietnam on matters such as trade and investment, air services, twinning agreement in the fields of history and culture and the possibilities of cooperation in other areas such as renewable energy, oil/gas exploration, agriculture and fisheries, especially in supporting the initiative by Seychelles to develop the Blue Economy concept.

President Michel congratulated President Sang for the great socio-economic strides Vietnam has made since it achieved independence in 1945 as well as for its increased role across the region and globally, which he said stand as testimony to the wise vision and leadership  of its Government as well as of the hardworking people of Vietnam.

“Both Seychelles and Vietnam shared a common vision to be integrated into the world economy. Both countries are committed to work in partnership to provide a good example of “South-South” cooperation,” said President Michel.

Seychelles is also positioned as the ideal hub for Vietnamese business into East and Southern Africa through SADC and COMESA.

President Michel congratulated Vietnam on its remarkable economic progress as a market economy which was creating numerous opportunities for the region and for the world.  The President also briefed his counterpart on Seychelles' reforms since the world financial crisis in 2008 and both leaders noted that the two countries could use their shared experiences to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs of both countries.

Editor’s note:

•Present at the meeting were the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam, the Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development, Ms. Idith Alexander,  the Secretary General of the Executive Office of the President, Mrs. Lise Bastienne, the Seychelles non-resident Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Philippe Le Gall, the Mayor of Victoria, Mrs.  Jacqueline Moustache-Belle, the Chairman of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Captain David Savy, the Chairman for Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Marco Francis, the Chief Executive Officer for Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Gilbert Faure and the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency, Mr. Marc Naiken .

•Diplomatic Relations between Seychelles and Vietnam were established in August 1979.

•This is the second Presidential visit to Vietnam, following the one by former President Albert Rene in 1980.