Malé, 9 January 2022 (TDI): Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi visited the Maldives where he met with the President and Foreign Minister of the country, respectively.
During his stay in Malé, he jointly conducted a press conference with the Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
Wang Yi enunciated that China-Maldives relations, through 50-year joint efforts, have become the epitome of friendly exchanges as well as win-win cooperation between countries.
“China and the Maldives Are Jointly Embarking on a Road to Hope, Prosperity, and Happiness”– Wang Yi
Whilst addressing the press Wang Yi stressed that China supports the Maldives as a comprehensive friendly ally of cooperation, in accelerating its social and economic development along with improving its capacity for independent growth.
China’s consistent and original aspiration is to cooperate with the Maldives. The Chinese Foreign Minister stated that China has advanced the expansion and renovation of the Velana International Airport for the Maldivian people.
Furthermore, the completion of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has resolved the chronic travel difficulties of the Maldivian people. The bridge has witnessed more than 100 million travelers.
Besides, China has constructed more than 10,000 housing units for the Maldivian side and aided tens of thousands of Maldivian families to improve their living circumstances.
He further highlighted that China has actively facilitated debt alleviation and suspension for the Maldives within the G20 framework.
During this visit, China and Maldives decide to launch a new batch of assistance and cooperation projects to boost the latter’s economic revival.
Wang Yi underscored that facts have proven that the joint construction of the Maritime Silk Road by the two partners serves the interests of the two peoples.
Meeting with Maldivian President
The Chinese Foreign Minister also called on the Maldivian President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his stay in Malé. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to the Chinese President.
President Ibrahim thanked China for its remarkable contributions to the economic and social development of the Maldives.
He appreciated the strong Chinese support for the promotion of universal vaccination along with the efforts to facilitate debt relief for the Maldives.
He further reiterated that the Maldives adheres to the one-China policy and the mutual trust between the Maldives and China stems from the long-standing traditional friendship between the two allies and the commitment to the precepts of mutual respect and sovereign equality.
The Maldives is keen to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a prospect to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation to promote Maldives-China relations for robust development.
“The Maldives adheres to the one-China policy and the mutual trust” – Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
The Chinese Foreign Minister on his part conveyed President Xi Jinping’s greetings. He stated that China-Maldives ties have historic connotations.
Chinese navigator Zheng He, about 600 years ago, visited the Maldives twice, and the ancient Maritime Silk Road has linked the two peoples ever since.
China and the Maldives will celebrate 50 years of establishment of diplomatic ties. The most invaluable experience of 50 years of exchanges is unfailingly maintaining mutual respect, pursuing solidarity, treating each other as equals, and providing mutual assistance.
He reiterated that China values the Maldives’ support for defending China’s core interests. Likewise, China has always supported the Maldives in guarding territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
The two sides exchanged views on strengthening coordination and communication in international affairs.
The Chinese Foreign Minister enunciated that China is willing to work with the Maldives to safeguard the authority of the United Nations (UN) and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, support multilateralism, and defend international fairness and justice.
