The Maldives, renowned as “A string of pearls scattered over the deep blue Indian Ocean”, is world-famous for its pristine waters and white sands, swaying coconut palms, breathtaking seascapes, and its constellation of islands and reefs. China and the Maldives are traditionally friendly neighbors. As early as over 600 years ago, the peoples of the two countries established amicable ties through the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, the two countries have always respected and supported each other, setting a good example of equal treatment, mutual assistance, and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes.
In the new era, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China-Maldives relations have achieved historic progress. In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to the Maldives, during which the two countries established a future-oriented comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership. At the beginning of 2024, on the 10th anniversary of President Xi’s visit to the Maldives, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu successfully visited China, becoming the first foreign head of state received by the Chinese side in the new year. The two heads of state jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and committed to building a China-Maldives community with a shared future, charting a new vision for the development of bilateral ties.
The Maldives was among the first countries to respond to the Belt and Road Initiative and one of the earliest to benefit from it. The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge has significantly facilitated local livelihoods and brought transformative changes to the country’s development. The expansion and upgrading of Velana International Airport has given wings to the Maldives’ tourism growth and economic recovery. Tens of thousands of units of social housing built by Chinese companies have greatly improved people’s wellbeing. Key projects such as the China-aided Vilimalé hospital, Malé and Villimalé Road Redevelopment Project, are being expedited. After regaining its status as the Maldives' largest source of tourists in 2024, China has continued to top the list in terms of tourist numbers in 2025. Earlier this year, the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement officially entered into force, opening up new prospects for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
The Maldivian government has consistently and firmly supported the one-China policy, as well as President Xi Jinping’s proposals for building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. China, for its part, has always respected and supported the Maldives in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, and firmly backs the Maldivian side in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national dignity. As developing countries, China and the Maldives share similar views and positions on regional and international affairs. The two sides maintain close coordination in multilateral settings, jointly upholding true multilateralism and safeguarding the common interests of developing countries, striving to make the world more peaceful, secure, and prosperous.
As someone born in 1972, the same year our diplomatic ties were established, I am deeply honored to serve as the 19th Ambassador of China to the Maldives. Shortly after the successful conclusion of the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries this April, President Xi Jinping paid state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, sending a strong signal of China’s commitment to its neighborhood diplomacy. In this context, I feel a great sense of responsibility as I assume my post in the Maldives. I will earnestly study and implement the guiding principles of the Central Conference, work closely with all sectors in the Maldives, accelerate the implementation of the important consensus reached by our two heads of state, further consolidate strategic mutual trust, deepen development synergy, expand exchanges and cooperation, jointly safeguard regional stability, and promote the continued and substantive growth of the China-Maldives comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
I am confident that, with trust as its rudder and cooperation as its sail, the ship of China-Maldives friendship, propelled by the sustained momentum of close bilateral relations, will sail toward a brighter and more prosperous future.