Chinese Embassy: Maldives and China have treated each other as equals, achieved win-win outcomes

The Chinese Embassy in Male’ states that Maldives and China have treated each other as equals and achieved win-win outcomes in their years of formal diplomatic relations - which will hit the 50-year mark in October. 

The Chinese Embassy made the remark in a tweet on Tuesday evening. 

“China and Maldives have enjoyed mutual understanding and support, treated each other as equals and achieved win-win outcomes,” said the Chinese Embassy in the tweet. 

The tweet comes ahead of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Maldives in the upcoming weekend. 

Wang is scheduled to arrive in Maldives for a two-day visit on January 7. 

According to the Chinese Embassy, Wang’s upcoming visit to Maldives is a high-level visit from the Chinese side to mark the beginning of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

It will launch the celebrations and take the relations into a new high, said the embassy. 

Wang’s upcoming visit will mark his first visit to Maldives since Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office in 2018. 

He last visited Maldives in 2016, during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration – which had fostered close relations with China. Though the 2016 visit hadn't been an official one, he met with top government officials for discussions during the visit. 

Maldives and China established formal diplomatic relations on October 14, 1972.  

Maldives opened its embassy in Beijing in 2007, and China followed suit by opening its embassy in Male’ in 2011. 

Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, Wang Lixin has tweeted that she was looking forward to a successful visit by the Chinese Foreign Minister.  

“Looking forward to a successful visit and more fruitful cooperation between China and Maldives in the future!” she said.