Chinese ambassador rejoices strong China-Maldives ties

The outcoming Chinese ambassador to the Maldives, Wang Lixin has expressed she was pleased to have witnessed the important development and sound momentum of the China-Maldives relations.

She made the statement in a post on X on Thursday, highlighting it was an honour to have served as the Chinese ambassador to “such a beautiful and friendly country.”

“I feel reluctant but have to bid farewell to all Maldivian friends!” she added.

Lixin assumed official duty as the Chinese ambassador on September 6, 2021 during the presidency of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

She expressed her delighted of witnessing the strengthening ties between the two countries over the past three years and 3.5 months.

While highlighting both the countries celebrated the 50^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties, Lixin noted that over the past five decades, both countries had mutual respect for one another while supporting each other. She added that this relationship set a good example of “equal treatment, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes.”

“This year marks the 10^th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s historic state visit to the Maldives,” Lixin said, while noting that due to this historic visit, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the expansion and upgrading of Velana International Airport (VIA) and the social housing projects brought transformative changes to the Maldives national development.

She said that these initiatives, assisted by the Chinese government, laid a solid foundation for further development of the relations between the two countries.

Lixin further highlighted President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s official state visit to China on the invitation of President Jinping, during which the two heads of state announced to elevate the relations of both countries to a comprehensive cooperative partnership and work towards a China-Maldives community with a shared future.

“The relations of our two countries have come to a new high,” Lixin said, adding that both sides are currently working on accelerating the China-aided projects to build a 100-bed Vilimale’ China-Maldives Friendship Hospital.

She also noted that cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and other areas are in full swing.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Maldives for your great support during my tenure, and your endeavor to promote the development of our bilateral relations. I will cherish the valuable friendship forever,” she said.

Lixin paid her final courtesy call in her capacity as the Chinese ambassador to President Muizzu on Tuesday before her exit.

At the meeting, President Muizzu extended well wishes for her future endeavors and thanked her for contributions in her capacity as an ambassador.

After concluding her visit to President Muizzu, Lixin said she hoped the relationship between China and the Maldives would continue to grow stronger in the future.