Sun Haiyan, the Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China has concluded her official visit to the Maldives.

The Vice Minister of CPC’s international department Haiyan arrived at Velana International Airport (VIA) on January 21. She was received at the airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheryna Abdul Samad.

Her visit came upon the official invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer.

The vice minister concluded her official visit and departed from VIA on Tuesday. She was seen off at the airport by State Minister Sheryna.

The visit comes shortly after a recent successful state visit to China by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, at a time relations with neighboring India have soured once again.

During the visit, Vice Minister Haiyan paid courtesy calls on the president, Speaker of the People’s Majlis Mohamed Aslam as well as the foreign minister.

She also attended a donation ceremony being hosted by the island council of Mahibadhoo island in Alif Dhaal atoll, on Monday.

According to the government, her visit is another important step in further solidifying the diplomatic relations between Maldives and China, building on the recent successful state visit by Muizzu.

During her meeting with President Muizzu on Monday morning, discussions were held on ways to swiftly implement agreements signed during the president's recent state visit to China.

Vice Minister Haiyan stated that all relevant authorities are eager to collaborate with their Maldivian counterparts under the leadership of China’s President Xi Jinping.

She further expressed interest in strengthening strategic bilateral relations and touched upon the topic of training possibilities for Maldivians in various fields.

Expressing his gratitude to China for the training opportunities and other avenues of support for Maldivians, Muizzu conveyed keen interest to implement the agreements signed between the two countries swiftly.

They also reviewed the recent success of direct flights between the Maldives and China and the possibility of extending direct flights from several Chinese cities to the Maldives and engaged in discussions on improving city-to-city relations between the Maldives and China.

Muizzu and the Chinese Vice Minister deliberated on future collaborations and fortifying ties between the Maldives and China.

During the president’s recent state visit to China, the Maldives and China has exchanged twenty key agreements, marking a significant step in bilateral relations.

The 20 key agreements were exchanged in the presence of Muizzu and the president of China, following official talks between the two countries.

Upon his return to the Maldives, Muizzu confirmed that the longstanding relations are built upon an exemplary model of mutual respect and noted that the ties are based upon four principles: mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal matters.

Muizzu also remarked that China respects the territorial sovereignty of the Maldives just as the Maldives fully accept China's One China policy.