The Ambassador of China to Maldives Wang Lixin has lauded the efforts of Maldives in reopening the tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. The ambassador made the remarks during a courtesy call paid on Vice President Faisal Naseem.
At the meeting held at the President’s Office, the vice president expressed his confidence that the existing bilateral ties between the two countries would be solidified during her tenure.
Speaking at the meeting, the vice president underscored the long-lasting friendly relations between the two nations, stating that the Maldives treasures assistance and cooperation from China, especially those extended towards the COVID-19 response. He went on to note China’s invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and highlighted assistance in the fields of tourism, healthcare, infrastructure development, and higher education.
The vice president also assured the Ambassador of the Maldives' commitment to upholding the One-China Principle. He also conveyed appreciation to the Chinese government for providing assistance to the Maldives in joining the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative, noting that it greatly assisted in restarting the economy.
The ambassador extended well wishes from the Chinese government to the vice president and the people of the Maldives. She also lauded the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the reopening of the tourism industry. Shedding light on the excellent relations between the two nations over the years, she noted that 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two.
The ambassador also expressed her wish to explore new avenues for cooperation in the future and discussed with the vice president the strengthening of social and cultural ties.
Concluding the call, the vice president and the ambassador expressed their commitment to continuing the relationship on a positive trajectory.