The government of Maldives remains committed to uphold the ‘One-China’ principle, says Vice President Faisal Naseem.

He made this remark on Wednesday, during a meeting held with the Ambassador of China to Maldives, Wang Lixin, who took office in September.

During the call the Maldivian vice president extended appreciation to the government of China for the extensive assistance in joining the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, adding that this had greatly assisted in restarting the economy of Maldives, which was on a downward spiral due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Shedding light on the long-standing friendly ties between Maldives and China, VP Naseem stated that Maldives treasures assistance and cooperation extended from China, especially towards the response efforts in the ongoing pandemic.

VP Naseem also noted the invaluable contributions by the government of China, towards the socio-economic development of Maldives and added that China has also been extending assistance in other fields including tourism, healthcare, infrastructure development and higher education.

Extending well wishes from the government of China to the Maldivian government and people, Ambassador Lixin applauded the efforts of the Maldivian government in curbing the spread of coronavirus and the success story of reviving tourism.

As Maldives and China prepare to mark the 50th anniversary since bilateral relations were established between both countries in 2022, the ambassador noted that the ties between the two nations have been excellent over the years.

The Chinese Ambassador revealed that she wishes to explore new avenues for cooperation in the future and expressed commitment to continue the relationship on a positive trajectory. The vice president reiterated this sentiment.

Discussions were also held on boosting social and cultural ties between the two countries.

VP Naseem expressed confidence that the existing ties between the two nations will continue to solidify during Ambassador Lixin’s tenure.

The Chinese Ambassador presented her credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in early September 2021.