Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Yan jointly presided over the first meeting of the China-Maldives Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation with Minister of Economic Development of the Maldives Mohamed Saeed in Beijing on December 16, 2014. They both made positive comments on the development of bilateral trade and economic relations, sincerely and deeply exchanged views on such issues as the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century, bilateral trade and investment, tourism cooperation, major projects, economic and technological cooperation and multilateral cooperation, and reached broad consensus.

Gao said that the Maldives is a good neighbor, friend and partner of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Maldives 42 years ago, both sides have always respected, trusted and supported each other. The sound relationship between the two countries sets a good example for countries, big or small, to treat each other as equals, live on friendly terms with each other and seek mutually beneficial cooperation. For a long time, China has provided assistance for the Maldives within its capacity in support of the latter’s economic and social development. At the beginning of this month, learning that the sea water desalting equipment of the capital of the Maldives Male broke down, China took emergency actions, airlifted many batches of drinking water to Male in a short time and provided special financial aid, hoping that this could help the Maldives alleviate the difficulties and pull through the crisis. China is happy to see that China-Maldives trade and economic cooperation has continuously deepened in recent years, which has become a highlight in the friendly relationship between the two countries. In 2014, bilateral trade is expected to surpass US$100 million. More and more Chinese enterprises are interested in investing in the Maldives. Bilateral tourism cooperation has developed rapidly and China has been the biggest tourist source of the Maldives for four successive years. China is willing to work with the Maldives to jointly build “the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century”, promote the construction of bilateral free trade areas and continuously improve the level of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Saeed thanked China for its immediate assistance to Male to alleviate its water supply crisis, saying that the Maldives pays high attention to China-Maldives economic and trade relations and the Maldives is willing to take an active part in constructing “the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century”. He hoped that a China-Maldives free trade area can be set up early and mutual beneficial cooperation and trade of fishery and other products to China would be further strengthened by the important platform of the Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation. The Maldives welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the Maldives and is willing to work with China to jointly promote the construction of such infrastructure projects as “China-Maldives Friendship Bridge”.

After the meeting, Gao and Saeed signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promoting the Construction of “the Maritime Silk Road of the 21th Century” under the Framework of the China-Maldives Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Maldives.

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