Wang Yi, the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China has concluded his two-day official visit to Maldives.

The Chinese minister arrived at the Velana International Airport on Friday evening and was received by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid and other high-level officials of the foreign ministry.

The visit came upon the invitation of FM Shahid.

The visit mirrored efforts by both countries to solidify the long-standing bilateral ties between Maldives and China, as well as to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries.

The visit saw the Chinese minister paying a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and FM Shahid who officially welcomed the State Councilor on Saturday afternoon.

Both foreign ministers then engaged in bilateral discussions, after which they observed the signing of numerous key agreements on important areas such as infrastructure development, health, and travel.

This was followed by a joint statement by FM Shahid and Minister Yi.

The ministers also unveiled the official logo symbolizing the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Maldives and China, as part of the visit.

The agreements signed between both countries are the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Agreement of Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Grand Aid, a Letter of Exchange on the Feasibility Study of Management and Maintenance of China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, a Supplementary Contract to the Implementation Contract for China Aided Micro-Grid Sea-water Desalination Project in the Maldives and an Agreement on Establishing a Hospital Assistance and Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Maldives and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China.

Maldives accords China as one of the most important development partners. China continues to contribute to the socio-economic development of Maldives, in several areas of significance.