President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended a welcome banquet hosted by His Excellency President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre, an event organised in honour of visiting Heads of State, Government leaders, and representatives of international organisations participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The ceremonial banquet reflected the warmth and hospitality extended by China to its international partners, underscoring the importance of the gathering in Tianjin.
President Muizzu’s official visit to China, his second since assuming office in November 2023, comes at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. It highlights the Maldives’ active participation in global multilateral forums and reaffirms the depth of bilateral ties between the two nations.
During the visit, President Muizzu and President Xi held substantive discussions centred on expanding cooperation in key sectors. Talks focused on accelerating joint initiatives in economic development, strengthening trade and investment ties, enhancing security collaboration, and promoting people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders emphasised the value of translating commitments into results that directly benefit their citizens.
President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting the Maldives in achieving its national development goals, assuring full cooperation under the newly established China–Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024–2028). He highlighted the importance of sustaining a results-oriented approach to deepen ties. President Muizzu, in turn, expressed appreciation for China’s continued support and described the partnership framework as a solid foundation for delivering tangible progress.
“It is my firm belief that under the China-Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024–2028), our ties will go from strength to strength for the common good of the people of both countries,” President Muizzu stated, reiterating his confidence in the future of bilateral relations.
In remarks shared on social media, President Muizzu further expressed gratitude for the warm reception in China, noting the hospitality and goodwill extended throughout the visit. “Heartened by the warm welcome I’ve received during my ongoing official visit to China. I met with His Excellency President Xi Jinping today in Tianjin and discussed expediting joint initiatives and explored potential avenues to expand existing cooperation. Our solid development partnership is founded on decades of close friendship and goodwill, and we renewed our commitment to carry forward our engagements in this spirit,” he noted.
The SCO, established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, has since expanded to 10 full member states and remains the largest regional organisation by geographic scope and population. With additional observers and dialogue partners, including the Maldives, the organisation serves as a key platform for political, economic, and security cooperation across Eurasia. President Muizzu’s participation in the summit further highlights the Maldives’ growing diplomatic visibility on the world stage.
The engagement between President Muizzu and President Xi concluded with a shared reaffirmation to strengthen cooperation, advance mutual interests, and preserve the longstanding foundation of trust and goodwill that underpins the relationship. For the Maldives, this visit reinforces its international standing while also opening avenues for stronger partnerships in tourism, trade, and sustainable development
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