Maldivian President Meets with Yang Jiechi
2010-01-06 13:10

On January 5, 2010, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Male, the capital of Maldives.

Yang said the relations between China and Maldives have withstood the test of the fast-changing international situation and have been developing steadily and smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties 38 years ago. Both sides always hold that all countries, big or small, are equal, and have shown mutual respect and mutual trust for each other. The two sides have also offered mutual support on major issues concerning each other's core interest. The deepening friendly cooperation between the two countries in all areas has brought tangible interests to both peoples. China is ready to work with Maldives based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to fully respect each other's core concerns and further consolidate the traditional friendship, enhance pragmatic cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, tourism and fishery and push bilateral friendly cooperative relations for sound, steady and sustained development. China will continue to work closely with Maldives on climate change and other issues, promoting the interests of developing countries including those of Small Island Developing States.

Nasheed said the Maldivian government and people cherish very much the friendship between the two countries and their friendly cooperative relations. The relations between China and Maldives have been developing smoothly in recent years. The two sides have made substantial progress in practical cooperation on tourism and other fields and maintained consultations and cooperation in international issues. He said his country appreciated the important and active role played by China in the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference held last month. He said Maldives is looking forward to strengthening its cooperation with China in dealing with global issues including climate change. Maldives is ready to work with China to strengthen cooperation on tourism and fishery and continuously advance bilateral friendly cooperative relations.

Nasheed emphasized that his country respects China's state sovereignty and core interests, adding that Maldives will not do anything that might hurt China's core interests and the two countries' relationship. Yang appreciated such a position.

On the same day, Yang also held talks with Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed.