On July 11, 2023, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met with a delegation of officials of the Maldives' political parties. The delegation was led by Ikram Hassan, Chair of the Maldives-China Parliamentary Friendship Group at the People's Majlis of the Maldives.

Sun Weidong said that China and the Maldives enjoy time-honored friendly exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, the two sides have always treated each other as equals, rendered mutual assistance, and upheld cooperation to boost development, setting a fine example of friendly interaction and mutual benefit between countries that differ in system and size. China appreciates the Maldives' valuable support on issues concerning China's core interests. China will, as always, support the Maldives in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and respects the development path chosen by the Maldivian people in line with their own national conditions. China is ready to expand all-round reciprocal cooperation with the Maldives on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and strengthen experience-sharing with various political parties of the Maldives in such areas as law-based governance, economic development, and improvement of people's livelihood. China supports expanding bilateral cooperation on tourism and hopes that the Maldives will offer safer, more comfortable, and more convenient services for Chinese tourists.

The delegation said that China is a friendly and cooperative partner of the Maldives, and developing friendly relations with China is a consensus among all sectors of the Maldives. The Maldives supports and appreciates the Belt and Road Initiative. Projects such as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the renovation and expansion of the Velana International Airport, and social housing construction have effectively promoted the Maldives' economic development and people's well-being. The Maldives admires China's development achievements and looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as high-quality development, modern fisheries, urban construction, and primary-level governance, to strive for greater development of the Maldives-China relations.