On October 14, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Hailing the time-honored friendship between China and the Maldives, Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always respected and supported each other, setting a good example of equal treatment and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes. In recent years, the two sides have stood together through thick and thin, and worked jointly to meet the challenges of the once-in-a-century pandemic, deepen the Belt and Road cooperation, and safeguard and promote true multilateralism, adding new impetus to and opening up new prospects for China-Maldives relations. Noting the great importance he attaches to the development of China-Maldives relations, Xi Jinping expressed readiness to work with President Solih to promote the steady progress of the future-oriented comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership between China and the Maldives, and bring more benefits to the two countries and peoples.

Solih said that the Maldives-China relationship is built on shared historical experiences, sovereign equality and mutual respect, and is grounded on the Maldives government’s firm commitment to the one-China principle. Applauding China’s great contributions to the economic, social and cultural development of his country, Solih expressed the confidence that the long-term friendly and cooperative relations the two countries have developed over the past 50 years will be further deepened and expanded.