On the afternoon of December 7, 2017, Premier Li Keqiang met at the Great Hall of the People with President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of Maldives, who was in China for a state visit.

Speaking positively of relations between both countries, Li Keqiang expressed that President Xi Jinping successfully visited Maldives in 2014, and bilateral relations were elevated to a future-oriented comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership. China supports the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and development rights and interests, and is willing to adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment, cement high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in various fields with Maldives, in a bid to promote relations between both countries for new development.

Li Keqiang pointed out that both countries enjoy broad prospects for tourism cooperation, and China has been the Maldives' biggest source of tourists for seven consecutive years. China supports its people in choosing Maldives as one of their travel destinations, which will promote bilateral people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and consolidate non-governmental friendship. It is hoped that Maldives could continuously provide more conveniences for Chinese tourists. Both sides could also share experience in tourism development and discuss cooperation. China is pleased to see an increasing number of development outcomes that Maldives achieved through the docking of development strategies between both countries, and stands ready to work with Maldives to enhance cooperation in such areas as infrastructure construction, civil aviation, economy, trade, maritime scientific research and dealing with climate change, so as to jointly boost sustainable development of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom expressed that the two countries have enjoyed a close friendship since the establishment of Maldives-China diplomatic relations 45 years ago, which can be a model of country-to-country relations. Bilateral relations and cooperation have developed even more rapidly in recent years. Maldives thanks China for its assistance in the economic and social development of Maldives, appreciates China's efforts in dealing with climate change, and will continuously respect China's core interests, strengthen cooperation in tourism, civil aviation, infrastructure construction and other areas, and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the spirit of equal treatment and mutual respect, so as to further consolidate and develop a closer cooperative partnership.