Source: China Military news
Following last week’s working visit to China by Vice President Danny Faure and his meeting with Mr. Ma Zhiping, President of CATIC (China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation), the Seychelles Resident Ambassador to China Mr. Philippe Le Gall has been invited to visit Harbin where four Seychellois are now undergoing training on the two Y-12-E aircrafts expected to be handed over to the Seychelles government in June this year.
While speaking of his visit, Amb. Le Gall said he was reassured that Seychelles would get “an excellent general-purpose aircraft, ideal for inter-island transportation needs, especially with the company’s commitment to provide first-class, after-sale technical support. »
During the visit on April 25, Amb. Le Gall had talks with Mr. Li Xianzhe, Vice Chief Engineer of AVIC, production branch of CATIC for Y-12 aircrafts, who made a presentation on the twin turboprop light general purpose aircraft powered by Canadian Pratt & Whitney engines. Reliable, comfortable, cost effective, and reputed for its high performance, the Y-12 E aircraft can be used for passenger/cargo transportation, maritime patrol and surveillance, emergency medical service, geological survey, and aerial photography, among other uses.
This donation from the Chinese government follows an agreement signing held in March this year during the visit of a the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Wang Qishan.
After the initial agreement signing, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Jean-Paul Adam said that having strong partners like China that react to the needs of Seychelles has allowed the country to achieve things which would not otherwise have been possible without this high level of support.
The four Seychellois currently undergoing training in China include two pilots and two technicians.