Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Friday, extending sincere congratulations and best wishes to the government and people of the Maldives on the 59th anniversary of the country's independence.

Xi pointed out that China and the Maldives enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges, setting a good example of equal treatment, mutual assistance and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes. 

He expressed his readiness to work with Muizzu to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and advance the building of a China-Maldives community with a shared future.