Ambassador: China’s economic growth will benefit Maldives

The growth of the Chinese economy will provide more opportunities for all countries, including the Maldives, says the Chinese ambassador Wang Lixin.

She made the remark while speaking at a function held by the Chinese embassy at the Social Center in Male’ on Sunday night, to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

In her remarks, Wang said that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have built a prosperous society, and made a number of achievements, including eliminating poverty.

'ENGINE OF WORLD ECONOMIC GROWTH'

Wang said that China continues to promote high-quality development.

“Since the beginning of this year, the Chinese economy has maintained continued recovery and upturn. It achieved a year-on-year growth of 5.5 percent in the first half of the year, taking the lead among major economies in the world,” she said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects China's economy will grow by 5.2 percent this year, and contribute one-third to the world economic growth.

“The Chinese economy has strong resilience, enormous potentials and great vitality and its long-term positive fundamentals will not change,” she said.

Wang stressed that China still remains an important engine of world economic growth, and will continue to provide steady flow of impetus for the world economic recovery.

“The growth of Chinese economy will provide more opportunities and even more dividends for all the countries including the Maldives,” she said.

Wang noted that this year also marks the 10th anniversary since Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative.

“This initiative holds the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It aims at common development, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. It originates from China, but its chances and outcomes belong to the whole world,” she said.

Wang said that over the past ten years, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents under the initiative with more than 150 countries, including the Maldives, as well as more than 30 international organizations.

Projects conducted in Maldives under the Belt and Road include the Sinamale’ Bridge (China-Maldives Friendship Bridge), the expansion of the Velana International Airport, the Laamu Link Road Project, and social housing projects.

Wang said the projects have brought tremendous benefits to the Maldivian people.

She also announced that China will hold the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this month.

“China is ready to take this opportunity to work with all countries for greater cooperation and development,” she said.

'AN EXAMPLE OF WIN-WIN COOPERATION'

Wang noted that friendly exchanges between Maldives and China date back to ancient times.

She said that Maldives-China relations have set an example of equal treatment and win-win cooperation for countries of different sizes.

“Since China and the Maldives established diplomatic relations 51 years ago, we have always respected and supported each other, which has set a good example of equal treatment and win-win cooperation for countries of different sizes,” she said.

“Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of our two countries, our bilateral relationship has maintained a good momentum of healthy and steady development.”

Wang said that Maldives-China relations have bright prospect of greater progress.

“Looking into the future, the Chinese side is ready to stride forward hand-in-hand with the Maldivian government and friends from all walks of life of the Maldives on the fast track to carry forward traditional friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly writing a new chapter for the future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership between our two countries!” she said.