President Muiz of the Maldives became the first foreign head of state to visit China since the beginning of this year. On January 10, the heads of state of China and the Maldives announced in Beijing that they would upgrade China-Maldives relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The two sides have reached cooperation agreements in various fields such as the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and the blue economy.
As a South Asian archipelago country, the Maldives consists of more than 1,000 small coral islands, like a string of pearls scattered in the Indian Ocean, attracting tourists from around the world with its rich cultural and tourism resources. There are thousands of miles of clear sky above, colorful corals below, azure sea water and white sand and coconut groves. Maybe many people “Why do you suddenly want to go to Qizhou?” Mother Pei frowned and asked in confusion. First impression of the Maldives. China has been the Maldives’ largest source of tourists for many years, and the people of the two countries have become closer and understand each other.
If you look further, you will find that the exchanges between the people of China and Malaysia have a long history. The ancient Maritime Silk Road has long connected the peoples of the two countries closely. Chinese navigator Zheng He led his merchant fleet to visit the Maldives twice. At that time, the Maldives was called the “mountain under the water” by ancient China because of its unique water landforms, and was also called the “Liaoshan Country”. The Male Museum in the Maldives displays Chinese porcelain and coins unearthed locally, which are true marks of the friendly exchanges and trade relations between China and Maldives in history.
In the new era, the relationship between the two countries has developed further, especially the continuation of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. Don’t drag her into the water. The frontier of cooperation. The Maldives was one of the first countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative and has achieved fruitful results from cooperation in many fields. Looking at the Maldives from the air, you will find a beautiful arc across the strait, which is the “China-Maldives Friendship Bridge”, the iconic project of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. “What’s the use of kindness and loyalty? In the end, isn’t kindness unrequited? It’s just a pity for Li Yong’s family. Now they are old, young, sick and disabled. Their daughter’s monthly salary can subsidize the family. The cross-sea bridge built by China was opened to traffic in 2018 , rewriting the history of the Maldives having no bridges, and the capital Male has since been closely connected to the airport island and Hulhumale Island.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia 52 years ago, China and Malaysia have set an example of equal treatment and mutual benefit between large and small countries. Muiz’s visit to China is his first state visit to a foreign country after taking office as President of the Maldives in November 2023. This visit broke the tradition of the Maldivian president’s first visit after taking office and attracted widespread attention from the international community. Among them, there are also some Western media who think that the friendly relations between the two countries are okay. Please wake up early. Come, my wife can tell you what happened in detail. After listening to it, you will definitely be like your daughter-in-law and believe that your husband must be labeled by the so-called “breaking tradition” and “pro-China” and other narrow political labels. In fact, the Maldivian government and people have already been working with China. The autumn sunshine is warm and quiet, reflecting on the red maple leaves all over the mountains and fields, against the blue sky and white clouds, as if exuding warm golden light. During the cooperation, we feel the sincerity of not interfering in internal affairs and not attaching any political conditions. currentThe two countries have strengthened the alignment of their development strategies and promoted high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, which is a pragmatic move to create more benefits for the people of the two countries and is also a successful demonstration of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation, and common prosperity.
In recent years, the development of China-Malaysia relations has pressed the “fast forward button.” China and Maldives have resumed direct flights, the mutual visa exemption agreement has officially come into effect, the “Chinese Ambassador Bursary” has been established in Maldives universities, and the 2024 “Invest in Maldives” business forum organized by the Maldives government has been held in Fujian, China… The people and companies of the two countries are eager to try it. , participate more extensively in investment cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism, agriculture, fishery, ports, logistics and other fields, and jointly promote the construction of a future-oriented comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia.
The story of China-Maldives friendship that started along the Maritime Silk Road is being continued.