Beyond diplomatic language

Le Gall paints a picture of an idyllic archipelago whose residents share the Chinese ideals of harmony between man and nature, and respect for ancestral values.

"Seychelles and China share 36 years of exceptional friendship and cooperation. The first Chinese to settle in Seychelles reached our shores 150 years ago," he says.

"And the reasons why the first Chinese who landed in the 1860s decided to stay and be happy there are still valid today."

The ambassador says writing increases his understanding of China and also promotes his country to the world.

"China has been a global focus," he says.

"Through promoting Seychelles in China and via China, we're making our country go global, too."

Writing is also a way to break down restrictions, Le Gall adds.

"I take it as a blessing as I have a duty of discretion as a diplomat. But, as a fiction writer, I enjoy total freedom and independence to express my thoughts," he says.

Scholar and French-language translator Fan Haoyi says: "The ambassador is a mature writer. His book of essays on the two countries' cultures has wide influence. And his novel shows strong literary influence from European classics and allows readers space for imagination."

Le Gall was born in France in 1954. Since childhood, China has fascinated him with its antiques and literature.

"Unlike now, when China is being a key player in international affairs and China stories appear more frequently in the news, I had limited access as a young and eager reader," he says.

By the time he was 12, Le Gall knew he would write books one day.

He first tested his literary skills 10 years ago in a competition organized for countries in the southwest of the Indian Ocean. His work, The King's Garden, was awarded best short story and the overall Indian Ocean Award for the best entry in a competition, which covered novels, short stories, poetry and theater.