President to make State visit to China on Wednesday

President’s Office has announced Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will be making a State visit to China, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping coming Wednesday.

Spokesperson at President’s Office, Abdulla Muaz Ali announced this Monday that the two-day visit by Yameen – set to begin on December 6 – will be the first State visit by Yameen to China.

Muaz said Yameen and Xi were scheduled to discuss issues of mutual concern, and sign several agreements during the visit.

Yameen will be travelling to China with a delegation made up of senior State officials.

Announcement of the State visit to China comes after People’s Majlis gave its backing to establishing a free trade agreement between Maldives and China last week. However, the President’s Office has not made any comment on whether Yameen will be signing the free trade agreement during the upcoming visit.

Yameen previously made two official visits to China: in 2015 and 2016. And Xi and the Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan made a State visit to Maldives in 2014.