President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed the importance of the Maldives’ longstanding partnership with China as discussions with a senior delegation from the Communist Party of China focused on expanding economic cooperation and strengthening relations between the two countries.
A delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Peng Xiubin, Director General of the Bureau for Southeast and South Asian Affairs at the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), paid a courtesy call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, at the President’s Official Residence, Mulee’aage.
During the meeting, Peng highlighted the strong foundations of the Maldives–China relationship, pointing to the shared values, longstanding friendship and close people-to-people connections between the two countries. He noted that these ties continue to provide an important basis for expanding cooperation and developing new areas of mutually beneficial engagement.
Peng also commended President Muizzu’s commitment to national reform and acknowledged the achievements realised under his leadership. He described the progress achieved by the Maldives as providing a solid foundation for the country’s continued development and expressed optimism about the opportunities available for further strengthening cooperation between the Maldives and China.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with Peng expressing hope that bilateral relations could be further expanded through deeper economic engagement and closer institutional ties. Such cooperation provides scope for the two countries to continue exploring opportunities that support development, connectivity, investment and broader economic interaction for their mutual benefit.
The visiting delegation also highlighted the frequency of high-level exchanges between the Maldives and China, reflecting the continued engagement between the two countries. Regular exchanges between senior officials have provided an important channel for advancing discussions on bilateral cooperation and maintaining dialogue on areas of shared interest.
President Muizzu expressed his deep appreciation for China’s longstanding friendship with the Maldives and acknowledged the substantial assistance extended by China over the years. He described relations between the two countries within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership and recognised China’s continued economic support to the Maldives.
Maldives–China relations have developed across a broad range of areas, with economic engagement forming an important component of the partnership. The latest discussions reflect the continued emphasis placed by both sides on maintaining high-level dialogue while identifying further opportunities to expand practical cooperation.
For the Maldives, strengthening economic partnerships with major international partners remains an important part of its wider development engagement. Continued cooperation with China offers opportunities for further exchanges of expertise, investment and development support while strengthening connections between institutions, businesses and communities in both countries.
The meeting at Mulee’aage also underscored the importance both sides attach to people-to-people relations alongside government-level cooperation. These connections contribute to the broader relationship between the Maldives and China and provide an additional foundation for developing cooperation across economic, social and institutional fields.
With both sides expressing interest in further strengthening bilateral engagement, the discussions highlighted the potential for the Maldives and China to build on their existing partnership through closer economic cooperation, sustained high-level exchanges and initiatives designed to deliver mutual benefits for both countries and their peoples.
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