On the morning of December 4, Danny Faure, former President of the Republic of Seychelles, and his wife Shermin Faure visited Chengdu University (CDU). Hu Xiuqiang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU, warmly received former President Faure and his wife. The two sides held friendly talks on deepening China–Seychelles cultural exchanges and expanding educational cooperation.
Hu Xiuqiang first extended a warm welcome to former President Danny Faure and his delegation on behalf of CDU. He fondly recalled the visit to Seychelles in July this year, during which representatives from CDU, as part of a delegation led by Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, signed an inter-university cooperation memorandum with the University of Seychelles and formally established friendly cooperative ties. He stated that former President Faure’s visit is another important step in implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and in advancing the friendly relations between Sichuan and Seychelles, and it also fully affirms the achievements of educational cooperation between CDU and Seychelles. Chengdu University (CDU) places high priority on educational exchanges with Seychelles. Guided by the existing cooperation memorandum, CDU is ready to work with its Seychellois counterparts to draw on respective strengths, advance practical cooperation in areas such as faculty and student exchanges, joint research, artistic creation, and cultural heritage protection. These joint efforts will contribute to the people-to-people bonds between China and Seychelles and to building a closer China–Africa community with a shared future.
Former President Danny Faure expressed his gratitude to CDU for its warm reception and meticulous arrangements, and praised the university’s beautiful campus environment, rich academic atmosphere, and outstanding achievements in China–ASEAN art education. He specifically noted that the Government of Seychelles places a high priority on education, regards it as a key cornerstone of sustainable national development, and actively advances the cultivation of diverse talent, including arts education. He outlined the concepts and practices of the Danny Faure Foundation he founded in promoting ocean governance, the blue economy, and youth development, and stated that educational cooperation is a key pathway to enhancing mutual understanding among peoples and addressing shared global challenges. He looks forward to fruitful cooperation between CDU and educational institutions such as the University of Seychelles, and welcomes faculty and students from CDU to visit Seychelles in the future for exchanges and to experience firsthand the country’s unique natural and cultural charm.
Former President Faure and his wife, accompanied by Hu Xiuqiang and others, made an on-site visit to the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts at CDU. In the International Department, he gained a thorough understanding of the college’s internationalized education, international student training, and cooperation with art schools in ASEAN countries. At the Traditional Crafts Institute, former President Faure carefully viewed the exhibition of traditional craft works and expressed strong interest in the institute’s efforts in the protection and innovation of intangible cultural heritage. At the School of Music and Dance, former President Faure observed classroom instruction and enjoyed wonderful music and dance performances by the school’s faculty and students. He highly commended the school’s high-level arts education and talent cultivation outcomes.
The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean off East Africa. It consists of 115 islands, is divided into 26 administrative districts, and its capital is Victoria.
This visit further deepened mutual understanding and friendship between Seychelles and Sichuan, as well as with CDU, and laid a solid foundation for the subsequent implementation of the bilateral memorandum on educational cooperation and the expansion of areas of collaboration. CDU will take this visit as an opportunity to continue leveraging platforms such as the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts to actively serve the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen exchanges and cooperation with Seychelles and other countries in education, culture, and the arts, and continuously enhance the university’s international influence and its level of openness in running schools.
Responsible officials from the Asia-Africa Division of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee, the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of CDU, the School of Fine Arts and Design, and the School of Music and Dance participated in the above activities.
Editor: Min Xiuling Executive Editor: Lyu Jia
