President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has described the Maldives-China relationship as a partnership built on mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared development, saying the two countries’ longstanding friendship has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership with tangible benefits for the Maldivian people.
Speaking at a reception to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, President Muizzu said the Maldives and China had remained closely connected despite their geographical distance, with their relationship strengthened by centuries of interaction across the Indian Ocean.
“The Maldives attaches great importance to its longstanding friendship with China,” President Muizzu said, adding that the relationship was founded on “mutual respect, sovereign equality, peaceful coexistence” and the Maldives’ steadfast commitment to the One China Principle.
He said the historic friendship had now developed into a “broad and forward-looking partnership”, following the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
“This was not simply a change in terminology. It was a reflection of the depth of our friendship, and of our shared ambition for the future,” he said.
President Muizzu highlighted China’s contribution to the Maldives’ national development, pointing to modern urban initiatives, sustainable island infrastructure, education, technical training and institutional support.
He said the partnership was not limited to diplomatic agreements but could be seen in projects affecting the daily lives of Maldivians, including the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, housing projects and other infrastructure and development initiatives.
“The friendship with China can quite literally be seen,” he said.
The President also highlighted expanding trade and economic engagement between the two countries, supported by the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement.
He said the partnership should continue to serve as a bridge towards greater opportunity and prosperity as the Maldives pursues its ambition of becoming a developed state by 2040.
Referring to the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, where he recently commemorated the anniversary of the landmark infrastructure, President Muizzu said the bridge represented the broader relationship between the two countries.
“A bridge is never only made of concrete and steel,” he said. “A bridge represents connection. It connects people. It connects communities. And, ultimately, it connects nations.”
President Muizzu said the Maldives also valued its partnership with China at a time when conflicts, instability, economic uncertainty and climate change were creating challenges for countries around the world.
For small island developing states such as the Maldives, he said, external shocks could have particularly severe consequences because of their geographical and economic vulnerabilities.
“These realities remind us of something fundamental: no country, however large or small, can face today’s challenges alone,” he said.
The President called for dialogue instead of division, cooperation instead of confrontation, and partnerships based on mutual respect and trust.
He said the Maldives therefore looked forward to expanding cooperation with China, including through China’s four global initiatives, while further aligning the bilateral partnership with the Maldives’ national development priorities.
President Muizzu said the strength of the relationship would ultimately depend not only on cooperation between governments but also on ties between their peoples.
“The strongest friendships between nations are ultimately friendships between people,” he said, highlighting students, entrepreneurs, families and exchanges between communities.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would continue to grow across generations, bringing greater opportunities and prosperity to both countries.
“May the friendship between the Maldives and China continue to deepen,” President Muizzu said, concluding with a call for the two countries to continue working together for a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world.