5. Xi meets with Maldives president

Xi Jinping holds talks with Maldives’ President Muizzu

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 10 (Reporter Zhu Chao) – On the afternoon of January 10, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who was in China for a state visit. The two heads of state announced that they would upgrade China-Maldives relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and the Maldives are traditional friendly neighbors, and the two peoples have established friendly ties through the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Maldives 52 years ago, the two countries have always respected and supported each other, setting an example for countries big and small to treat each other as equals, help each other, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. In recent years, the relations between the two countries have developed in depth, and the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results. Under the new situation, China-Maldives relations are facing a historical opportunity to inherit the past and open up the future. Elevating China-Maldives relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is in line with the development needs of China-Maldives relations and the expectations of the two peoples. China is willing to work with Maldives to continuously expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields and work together to build a China-Maldives community with a shared future.

Xi Jinping profoundly explained the century-old struggle and valuable experience of the Communist Party of China. Xi Jinping emphasized that China respects and supports Maldives in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions, firmly supports Maldives in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national dignity. China is willing to exchange experience in state governance with Maldives, strengthen the docking of development strategies, and promote high-quality development. Jointly building the “Belt and Road” will set a new benchmark for China-Maldives friendship. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in economic and trade investment, agricultural parks, blue economy, green economy, digital economy and other fields, expand cooperation in marine ecological and environmental protection and other areas, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China supports more outstanding Maldivian students to study in China and promotes the increase of direct flights between the two countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Maldives are both developing countries and have similar views and positions on international and regional affairs. Both sides should intensify multilateral communication and cooperation, safeguard true multilateralism and the common interests of developing countries, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and make the world more peaceful, secure, and prosperous. China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Maldives, implement the consensus reached at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, and promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Muizzu said that it is a great honor for me to bring many important cabinet ministers to China for the first state visit and become the first foreign head of state received by China this year. This fully reflects the great importance that both sides attach to developing Maldives-China relations. Maldives firmly adheres to the one-China policy. Firmly supporting each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity is a solid foundation for the sustained and sound development of Maldives-China relations. This year marks the tenth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to the Maldives. China has provided a lot of valuable help for the economic and social development of Maldives. The cooperation between Maldives and China, especially the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, has benefited the Maldivian people a lot. The Maldives-China Friendship Bridge has become a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples. During my visit to Fujian, I witnessed with my own eyes the great achievements China has made in development, and personally felt the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping. The Maldivesn side looks forward to taking the opportunity of building a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to further expand new channels for bilateral cooperation, add new connotations to bilateral relations, promote high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, promote more new developments in Maldives-China relations, and benefit the two peoples. Create more well-being. We welcome China’s positive measures to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and look forward to more Chinese tourists visiting Maldives. Maldives supports the global development initiative, global security initiative, and global civilization initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to communicate and coordinate closely with China in international and regional affairs to strengthen mutual support.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the action plan on building a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Maldives and jointly building the “Belt and Road”, disaster management, economy and technology, blue economy, digital economy, green development, infrastructure and people’s livelihood and other fields. A number of bilateral cooperation documents.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Muizzu and his wife Sajida in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square, and soldiers lined up to pay tribute. The two heads of state ascended the reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Maldives. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Muizzu inspected the honor guard of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and watched the procession.

That night, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for Muizzu and his wife at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi participated in the above activities.

During Muizzu’s visit to China, the two sides will issue a “Joint Press Communiqué between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Maldives.”