Governor Chen Hao has stated that the main purpose of his visit to the Maldives ‎was to boost bilateral relations between the Maldives and to follow up on the ‎establishment of a Future-Oriented All-Round Friendly and Cooperative ‎Partnership between the Government of Maldives and China, discussed ‎during President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the Maldives. ‎
The Governor of the Yunnan Province of China, Chen Hao made this remark in his meeting with Presiden Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The meeting ‎was held yesterday morning at the President’s Office.‎
At the meeting, Governor Chen stated that President Xi’s visit to the ‎Maldives last year has contributed to ‎building comprehensive relations and ‎boosting bilateral ties between the two ‎countries.
Describing Yunnan province as the bridgehead that connects China to South ‎and South East Asia, Governor Xi discussed with President Yameen, areas in ‎which the Yunnan Provincial Government could extend ‎assistance to the ‎Maldives in the future.‎ In this regard, Governor Chen explored possibilities ‎of further enhancing cooperation between the Maldives and Yunnan in areas ‎of infrastructural development, renewable energy, tourism and education.‎
At today’s meeting, Governor Chen officially invited the Maldives to attend ‎the 3rd China-South Asia Exposition and the 23rd China Kunming Import and ‎Export Commodities Fair to be held in China from 12-16 June 2015. ‎President Yameen thanked the Governor for extending the invitation and ‎assured that a high-level delegation comprising of senior Government ‎officials and the business community would be representing the Maldives at ‎the Expo.‎
President Yameen briefed Governor on the key developmental projects of his ‎Government and opportunities for investment in the Maldives. Further, the ‎President and the Governor underlined the importance of building people to ‎people relations between the Maldives and China.‎
President Yameen reciprocated Governor Chen’s interest in developing trade ‎and commercial ties between the Maldives and Yunnan Provincial ‎Government and assured that a framework of engagement would be ‎established in the near future with advice from the Chinese Embassy in ‎Male’. Furthermore, the President thanked the Yunnan Provincial ‎Government for offering higher education scholarships for Maldivian youth ‎in recognised institutions in the province.‎
President Yameen was joined at the call by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, ‎Hon. Dunya Maumoon and Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. ‎Mohamed Hussain Shareef. ‎
Governor Chen was joined at the call by the Chinese Ambassador to ‎Maldives, Mr. Wang Fukang and other senior officials of the Yunnan ‎Provincial Government.