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H.E. Ambassador Wang Lixin’s Interview with PSM of Maldives

(From Chinese Embassy in Maldives)

2022-09-24 14:48

On 23rd September, H.E. Ambassador Wang Lixin was interviewed by PSM, the state television of Maldives and answered questions on 50 years of China-Maldives relations and the future development, the Taiwan question, the cooperation between the two countries in practical areas and multilateral affairs, and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The full text is as follows.

Question 1: As we know the Maldives and China have always enjoyed a close bilateral relationship, based on mutual respect and understanding. And recently, Maldives’ government assured its firm commitment to the One-China Policy, as the foundation of its diplomatic relations with China, also reaffirming this position in the international sphere. Therefore, first of all, I would like to ask how you would describe the relations between Maldives and China?

Wang Lixin: China and Maldives are friendly neighbors and the traditional friendship between the two peoples dates back to ancient times. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Maldives in 1972, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and helped each other in unity. The China-Maldives bilateral relationship based on solid political foundation achieved significant progress. The China-Maldives relations have become a model of friendly exchanges and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries with different systems and cultures in international arena.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the China-Maldives relations have maintained a good momentum of steady development. In September 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Maldives and the two sides agreed to establish future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership, lifting the China-Maldives relations to a new level. In July 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih and reached important consensus on deepening and expanding exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries, setting the direction regarding the future development of the bilateral relations. In January 2022, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a successful visit to Maldives. This visit achieved fruitful outcomes and opened a new chapter in China-Maldives relations. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid visited China twice over the past year, which enhanced the mutual trust and friendship between the leaders of the two countries.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Maldives diplomatic ties. Over the past five decades, the relations between the two countries have withstood the test of time and international vicissitudes. In this regard, one of the most valuable experiences is that both sides support each other on issues of our respective core interests and major concerns. Whether in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami or the fresh water crisis of Malé or fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese people have always stood shoulder to shoulder with the Maldivian people to help Maldives get over through all the difficulties. Recently, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, in disregard of the strong opposition and serious representations of the Chinese side, went ahead with the visit to China's Taiwan region. This reckless move seriously interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In order to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, China had to take a series of necessary countermeasures as firm response to the US side. The majority of the international community including Maldives has spoken out to support China on the Taiwan question.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and bears China's core interests. The one-China principle serves the political premise and foundation of China's relations with all the other countries all over the world. Maldives has a longstanding commitment to the one-China principle and reiterated recently that the Maldivian government would take this principle as the foundation of the relations of the two countries and continue to uphold the principle in international affairs. The Chinese side highly appreciates that. I’m in full confidence that China-Maldives relations based on firm political foundation will embark on a new journey towards greater development and success with the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic ties as a new starting point. China is ready to work with the Maldivian side to pass on friendship, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and promote the future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership between China and Maldives to a new level.

Question 2: How important is the Maldives-China relations in regional affairs and in the international arena? What have the two countries achieved so far?

Wang Lixin: China and Maldives are both developing countries, with same or similar views on a number of international and regional issues. Both sides have maintained close communication and coordination in international affairs, such as human rights issue, anti-Covid-19 pandemic efforts and global sustainable development, and have made positive contributions in safeguarding peace and development of the region and beyond. China welcomes and values Maldives’ unique and constructive role in international and regional affairs.

We actively supported Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid to undertake his responsibilities as President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. After Mr. Shahid took his office in the UN, we worked closely with Mr. Shahid in the joint efforts to fight against COVID-19 pandemic, speed up the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and carry out Global Development Initiative. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Maldivian side to stick to the true multilateralism and safeguard the authority of the UN and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, international equality and justice as well as the common interests of developing countries.

We support and congratulate Maldives’ becoming a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We look forward to close cooperation with Maldives in SCO. During 14-16 September, President Xi Jinping attended the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Samarkand. At the meeting, President Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the successful experience of SCO into five points - Political trust, Win-win cooperation, Equality between nations, Openness and inclusiveness, Equity and justice, pointing out that these five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, represent the source of strength for the development of the SCO, which also is the fundamental guide we must continue to follow. These five points are the practice of genuine multilateralism, and an answer to the question of what and how to promote a new type of regional cooperation in the new era, which is of great significance in guiding the development of SCO and promoting the healthy and fair development of international relations.

On the future direction of SCO development, President Xi Jinping put forward five proposals: to enhance mutual support, to expand security cooperation, to deepen practical cooperation, to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and to uphold multilateralism. These proposals meet the common aspirations of the member states for unity, stability and development, and draw a roadmap for SCO’s direction and new prospects for cooperation.

At the meeting, President Xi Jinping also introduced The Global Security Initiative and The Global Development Initiative, calling on all countries to stay true to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, calling on fostering global development partnership to achieve more robust, greener and more balanced global development. These two initiatives are China's wisdom and power contributed to world peace and development as well as the progress of human civilization. We hope that Maldives will take active part in SCO cooperation and make its due contribution to the development of SCO and get benefits from it at the same time.

Question 3: Several large infrastructure projects have been conducted by China in the Maldives,what are you focused in achieving in your tenure?

Wang Lixin: The friendly exchanges between China and Maldives have enjoyed a long history. About 600 years ago, Zheng He, a Chinese navigator, visited Maldives twice, which showed that the ancient Maritime Silk Road had already connected the Chinese people and Maldivian people long time ago. In 2014, during President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to the Maldives, the two sides reached important consensus on jointly building the "Belt and Road". Maldives became one of the first countries who took part in the Maritime Silk Road cooperation and benefited from it as well.

As an all-round friendly and cooperative partner, China has been always strongly supporting the Maldives to speed up economic and social development and improve self-development capability. Recent years have witnessed fruitful results on jointly building the "Belt and Road" by China and Maldives. China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the landmark project of jointly building the "Belt and Road" is well-known by Maldivian people as the symbol of the profound friendship between China and Maldives. The bridge, witnessing over 100 million crossings by the local people, has dramatically promoted the sustainable development of Maldivian economy and society in the past four years. Chinese enterprises have actively participated in the construction of social housing projects. So far more than 11,000 social housing units have been completed, which have contributed a lot in the improvement of living conditions of thousands and thousands of Maldivian families. The news of the Maldivian families relocating to new houses has become a hot topic among the Maldivian people.

I attach great importance to China-Maldives practical cooperation. During my tenure, I will work closely with the Maldivian side to push forward the early completion of Expansion and Upgradation of Velana International Airport Project and Micro-grid Seawater Desalination Project, so that the Maldivian people can benefit from these projects at an early date. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the implementation of some projects such as the China-Maldives Eye Center in Hulhumale. We will actively push these projects to be launched as soon as possible while the epidemic is under control. At the same time, we hope to expand cooperation between China and Maldives in the fields of health, environmental protection, blue economy as well as agriculture and fishery, to help implement the strategy of diversification of the Maldivian Economy. China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with Maldives in addressing climate change, jointly implement the Paris Agreement and help Maldives overcome practical difficulties. Maldives is welcomed to take part in the cooperation projects for sustainable development under Global Development Initiative proposed by the Chinese side.

Question 4: China is among the main partners of Maldives. What can be done to further boost the link between the two countries? Which areas can be further focused?

Wang Lixin: The history of 50 years’ diplomatic ties between China and Maldives has proved that the China-Maldives relations have already become a model of friendly exchanges, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among countries, which we’re very proud of. Looking into the future, the two countries should promote all-round cooperation to a new high and write a new chapter for the friendly and mutually-beneficial cooperation with a more far-reaching eyesight and broader vision. In this regard, I would like to put forward the following suggestions.

Firstly, both sides should blueprint and steer the future development of China-Maldives relations under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Secondly, both sides should adhere to the valuable experience to ensure the steady and smooth development of the bilateral relations. Both sides should continue to respect each other, treat each other as equals, help each other with sincerity as well as support each other on the issues of our respective core interests and major concerns. China will continue to support Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and in pursuing an independent foreign policy. We believe that the Maldivian government will uphold its longstanding commitment to the one-China principle and firmly support China to defend its core interests.

Thirdly, both sides should deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in full scale so as to benefit the people of the two countries. In this regard, both sides should continue to push forward Belt & Road cooperation, speed up major projects and tourist cooperation. I hope the Maldivian side could finish the ratification of China-Maldives FTA as early as possible in order to boost the post Covid-19 recovery of the Maldivian economy. We should explore new cooperation areas including telecommunication, big data and marine economy. We need coordinate closely in international affairs to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law.

Finally, both sides should expand the people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations. The People-to-people and cultural exchanges serve as an effective channel to increase understanding and sentimental attachment between the people of the two countries. Now, Maldivian students have returned to China to resume their study step by step. In the future, we welcome more and more Maldivian youngsters to further their study in China. A Chinese language center based in Villa College will open soon, which will bring more convenience for the Maldivians, especially young people, to learn Chinese language and culture. Maldives is a world-famous tourist country and also a one of the most favored destinations for Chinese tourists. With the facilitation of visa exemption agreement and as the Covid-19 situation getting better, I believe that in the near future the number of tourists and visitors moving between our two countries will increase greatly. We are also working on resuming direct flights between the two countries. Hopefully it can start next month, which will greatly facilitate the people-to-people exchanges. I’m very optimistic about future development of our bilateral relations.

Question 5: Can you introduce some updated information about the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China?

Wang Lixin: Next month, the Communist Party of China will convene its 20th National Congress. It will be an important meeting to be held at a critical time as China embarks on a new journey toward its second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. At this national congress, the Communist Party of China will fully review the major achievements made and valuable experience gained in China’s reform and development endeavors. It will also formulate programs of action and overarching policies to meet China’s new development goals on the journey ahead in the new era and the new expectations of the people. We will continue to follow the Chinese path to modernization to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and we will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. By doing so, we will create new opportunities for the world with new advances in China’s development and contribute our vision and strength to world peace and development and human progress.

Question 6: In conclusion, how would you describe Maldives? Have you travelled around, met people and had any local food?

Wang Lixin: I’ve been living in Malé for one year. It’s lucky to be posted to this beautiful and friendly countries. I’ve enjoyed my stay here as I’m taken very good care of by the Maldivian government and people. I’d like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitudes to Maldivian government and people for their hospitality and friendship. Maldives, known as the Blue Heaven floating on Indian Ocean, is well-known for its abundant tourist resources. Maldives is very popular in China and among the top overseas tourist destinations for Chinese tourists before the pandemic, and a lot of Chinese tourists come here for the holiday and honeymoon. The beautiful scenery of Maldives has deeply impressed me. Hundreds of atolls and islands look like a string of dazzling pearls floating on the vast blue Indian Ocean. I’m really longing to visit more and more atolls and islands if time allowed later on. I’ve also tried some local foods like mashuni, chicken and tuna curry, they are all delicious. In the future, I will take more visits to islands to explore new areas for cooperation and expand people-to-people cultural exchanges between the two countries. I will try my best to expand the practical cooperation and friendly exchanges between China and Maldives to bring more tangible benefits to the people of the two countries. I’m confident that our bilateral relations will flourish in the future with the joint efforts of the two sides.

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