China, Maldives agree to establish future-oriented, all-round partnership
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E-mail Xinhua, September 15, 2014
Chinese and Maldivian leaders agreed here Monday to establish a future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership between their two countries.
"For the sake of upgrading bilateral relations, and promoting the well-being of the two peoples as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the two sides decided to establish a Future-Oriented All-Round Friendly and Cooperative Partnership," said a joint press communique released after the talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Xi arrived in Male on Sunday for a state visit to the Maldives at Yameen's invitation. Monday's meeting was the second between the two presidents within a month.
On Aug. 16, they met in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, before attending the opening ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Recalling their meeting in Nanjing, Xi said he hopes his Male trip will help boost cooperation between the two countries, especially on building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Yameen reiterated the Maldives' support for China's proposal to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, adding that the island country is prepared to actively participate in relevant cooperation.
Xi said there is not any problem in the China-Maldives relationship and that the two nations share the common willingness of cementing friendship and enhancing cooperation. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level contact, strengthen dialogues in various areas and at different levels, encourage and support exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislative bodies and social groups of the two countries.
During the talks, the two presidents agreed to set up a Joint Committee of Economic and Trade Cooperation and hold its inaugural meeting within the year, to plan for practical cooperation in different fields and promote the sustainable development of China-Maldives economic relations.
Xi promised that the Chinese government will continue its assistance to the Maldives, and encourage competitive Chinese companies to invest in the country. The Chinese government will favorably consider providing financing support to the construction of Male'-Hulhule' bridge, he said.
The two presidents believed rapid growth of tourism cooperation has strengthened the understanding of the two peoples.
Xi said China will continue to encourage its citizens to travel to the Maldives and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Maldives tourism industry, while Yameen pledged that the Maldives will improve tourism service and fully ensure the safety of Chinese tourists in the Maldives. The two sides agreed to establish a joint meeting mechanism to deal with the issue of safety of Chinese tourist in the Maldives.
They also agreed to further enhance exchanges and cooperation in the fields of defence, technology, culture, education, human resources training and health, according to the communique.
Xi said China will provide the Maldives with more scholarships for students from the Maldives to study in China and provide assistance to Maldivians to study the Chinese language.
The two sides also agreed to further strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora, and enhance cooperation on global issues including climate change.
"China is ready to provide human resources training and material assistance to the Maldives on adapting to climate change," Xi said. The Chinese side welcomes the important role that the Maldives has played over the years on issues of importance to small states, and would continue coordinating with the Maldives on such issues in the international arena.
Yameen expressed his appreciation to the Chinese side for the long-standing assistance to the Maldives' social and economic development.
The Maldives regards China as the most reliable friend and the Maldives-China relationship has become a good example of equality, mutual respect, friendship and reciprocal cooperation among countries of different sizes, said the Maldivian president.
During the talks, Yameen expressed the willingness to strengthen cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was welcomed by the Chinese side. The Maldives also hailed China's contribution to the development of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and pledged to support China's efforts to upgrade its relationship with SAARC.
After their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a number of deals involving cooperation on diplomacy, trade and infrastructure construction, and inaugurated the construction of the Laamu Atoll Link Road and a housing unit project.
It was the first visit of a Chinese president to the Maldives since diplomatic relations were established 42 years ago.
The Maldives is the second leg of Xi's ongoing four-country Asia trip, which will also take him to Sri Lanka and India. Endi
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