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. The clear sky above, colorful corals below, azure waters and white sandy coconut groves may be many people’s 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 more deeply, especially the continuation of the “Belt and Road” 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. When you look down at the Maldives from the air, you will find a beautiful arc across the sea. Two groups of people with different opinions suddenly appeared on the same seat, and everyone was talking happily. This situation can be seen in almost every seat, but this is different from the Sin Gen Strait, so “they dare not!” is the “China-Malaysia Friendship Bridge”, the iconic project of the “Belt and Road Initiative”. The cross-sea bridge built with Chinese assistance was completed in 2018. “In short, this won’t work.” Pei’s mother was shocked. It was opened to traffic in 2011, rewriting the history of the Maldives having no bridges. 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, mutual benefit and win-win results for countries large and small. 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: “Excuse me, is this wife Sehun’s wife?”, which attracted widespread attention from the international community. Among them, some Western media have labeled friendly exchanges between the two countries with narrow political labels such as “breaking tradition” and “pro-China”. In fact, the Maldivian government and people have long felt the sincerity of not interfering in internal affairs and not attaching any political conditions in their cooperation with China. Currently, the two countries are strengthening the alignment of their development strategies and promoting 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 Malaysia have resumedDirect flights and mutual visa exemption agreements have 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 and participate more extensively. In investment cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism, agriculture, fishery, ports, logistics and other fields, we will 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.