President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Monday called for the inclusion of small developing countries in international decision-making during the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting, also referred to as the "SCO Plus" meeting in Tianjin, China.
During his speech, President Muizzu underscored the enduring relationship between China and the Maldives. He described the Maldives as a resilient nation, highlighting its climate goals and the Maldives 2.0 digitalization initiative. Furthermore, the President affirmed the Maldives' support for the Global Governance Initiative.
He specifically advocated for the inclusion of developing small island nations in global decision-making processes and reiterated the Maldives' steadfast support for Palestine, urging the international community to unite in their efforts for the Palestinian cause.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on screen, speaking at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025. (Photo/President's Office)
According to the President’s Office, the meeting was opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who emphasized the SCO's crucial role in fostering regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity. President Xi also introduced the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), his recent proposal aimed at reshaping international cooperation, development, and governance.
President Muizzu arrived in China on Friday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. In a separate bilateral meeting, President Xi reaffirmed China's full support for the Maldives' national development and emphasized a results-driven partnership.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a photo on social media on Sunday, depicting him alongside President Muizzu on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
On Monday, President Muizzu also met with Nepalese Prime Minister Rt Honourable KP Sharma Oli, where they discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations, including economic diversification.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (L) meets with Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (R) on September 1, 2025. (Photo/President's Office)
The President's Office had previously stated that several high-level meetings were slated to be held on the sidelines of the summit.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional political, economic, and security organization spanning Eurasia, established in 2001 by six founding countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The SCO, recognized as the world’s largest regional organization by both geography and population, currently comprises 10 member states. Additionally, numerous other countries participate as observers and dialogue partners, with the Maldives holding the status of a Dialogue Partner.
However, the framework for Dialogue Partners was recently updated. The SCO decided to merge the observer and dialogue partner statuses into a new "SCO partner" status. This decision was formalized at the summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday, where Laos was granted SCO partner status, bringing the total number of "SCO partners" to 17.