President Xi calls for enhanced exchanges, cooperation with Maldives

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in the port city of Tianjin on Sunday, calling for enhancing exchanges, continuing to deepen practical cooperation, and strengthening communication and collaboration.

Muizzu is in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, as well as commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Noting that the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year, and committed to building a China-Maldives community with a shared future, Xi said the two countries have since made positive progress in Belt and Road cooperation, continuing to deepen their partnership, and bringing benefits to the two peoples. 

China will continue to support the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, Xi said.

He said China is ready to strengthen exchanges across various aspects, including political parties, legislatures and governments, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote friendship between the two peoples.

Xi also called for continuing to deepen practical cooperation, implementing the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement and expanding cooperation in areas such as fisheries, marine scientific research, environmental protection, and disaster prevention and mitigation.

China will also improve communication and collaboration with the Maldives, uphold common strategic interests and international fairness and justice, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, the Chinese president said.

For his part, Muizzu thanked China for its long-term assistance to the Maldives' economic development and improvement of people's livelihood.

The Maldives firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to expand cooperation with China in areas including trade, investment and tourism, he said. Muizzu also called for strengthening coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the SCO to jointly build the Maldives-China community with a shared future.