Chinese Ambassador urges more exchanges on development planning for a share future

Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Kong Xianhua has urged to strengthen exchanges on development planning between China and Maldives for a shared future. 

He made the remark in his keynote speech at the ‘Medium- and Long-Term Development Planning: The Key to National Modernization’ seminar on Tuesday. 

In his remarks, Ambassador Kong pointed out the Maldives, under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is formulating a 20-year national development plan with the goal to ensure Maldives a developed country by 2040. 

He added that the medium- and long-term plans of Maldives and China share common values and visions, and highlighted ways China and the Maldives can deepen cooperation for integrated development with a shared future. 

He emphasized the need to deepen exchanges on development planning. Highlighting China’s journey from poverty to becoming the “world’s factory,” and later an innovation center and major global market, as well as the Maldives’ rise from a least developed country to an upper-middle-income nation, a leading tourism destination, and a front-runner in climate action, Ambassador Kong said the two countries can expand their cooperation in designing and carrying out development plans. He noted that by aligning their development strategies, they can seize shared opportunities and further advance mutually beneficial collaboration.

The Ambassador also urged to deepen economic integration and development, adding China will continue to create new opportunities for the world through its own development. 

He pointed out that many landmark projects in the Maldives, such as the Sinamale’ bridge, have all been made possible by China’s sustained and rapid growth. 

Referring to a remark made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his meeting with United States President Donal Trump on October 30th, where he said, “The Chinese economy is like a vast ocean, big, resilient and promising,”, the Ambassador expressed hope that Maldives will join this ocean of opportunities to generate strong momentum for shared development.

The Ambassador described China as an ideal partner for the Maldives in key areas which are valued most by the Maldives including modern agriculture, infrastructure, blue economy, green economy, digital economy, and AI. 

Ambassador Kong also called to enhance people-to-people ties between China and Maldives. He underscored the long-standing 600-year friendship between China and the Maldives, noting strong mutual goodwill and tourism ties, with China consistently being the largest source of tourists to the Maldives over the past 15 years, except during the pandemic. He also stressed Chinese respect and admiration for the Maldivian people’s dedication to safeguarding national sovereignty and independence.

He identified education as a vital bridge for deepening bilateral ties. Ambassador Kong highlighted China’s global strength in STEM education, producing millions of graduates who drive modernization, and encouraged Maldivian youth to study in China to gain knowledge and skills that can support Maldives’ development while building closer people-to-people connections. He noted current initiatives, such as nine Maldivian students visiting universities and high-tech enterprises in Sichuan Province, and proposed a “Chinese language + STEM” pilot program in the Maldives to cultivate talent for science, technology, and high-quality economic and social development, strengthening the foundation for a China–Maldives community with a shared future.