CHOW - DP SUPPORTS ONE CHINA STATE POLICY

DP leader, Paul Chow and Chinese Ambassador Gen Wenbing

The Democratic Party leader, Mr Paul Chow, has said that the Democratic Party is in agreement with the Government in respect to the One China state policy as the official policy of the Republic of Seychelles. Mr Chow was speaking exclusively to the Seychelles Weekly, following a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles Mr Gen Wenbing at a private dinner hosted by the ambassador at his residence earlier this week. The dinner was also attended by other members of the DP Executive Committee.

During the dinner other members of the party’s Executive were able to question the Ambassador at length and in a frank manner on all aspects of the China-Seychelles relationship, Chow said. He said that Ambassador Wenbing reassured us that China’s economic aid to Seychelles is aimed at assisting the country and not any special interest group and that such assistance would have been made available regardless who was legitimately in power in Seychelles.

Mr Chow said that, as far as the China-Taiwan issue is concerned, this is a Chinese domestic issue which must be settled through dialogue between all parties, within the framework of a one china state policy.

Chow pointed out that it was the Democratic Party under the leadership of former President Mancham which established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China on the day the Seychelles became independent in June 1976.