President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended his congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the people of China as the country marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
In his National Day message, Muizzu highlighted the longstanding relationship between the Maldives and China, describing bilateral ties as a partnership built on mutual respect, trust and a shared interest in development and prosperity.
China celebrates its National Day on October 1, commemorating the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Muizzu said China has remained an important development partner for the Maldives, with cooperation between the two countries contributing to infrastructure, housing and other areas of national development.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would continue creating opportunities for Maldivians and said his administration remained committed to further strengthening relations with Beijing.
Relations between the two countries were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership during Muizzu’s state visit to China in January 2024.
The visit, his first overseas state visit after assuming office, saw Muizzu hold talks with Xi and other senior Chinese leaders. The two countries exchanged 20 agreements covering areas including infrastructure, the blue and digital economies, green development, agriculture, tourism, human resource development and disaster management.
An action plan covering the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership from 2024 to 2028 was also signed during the visit.
The Maldives and China established diplomatic relations in 1972, with cooperation expanding considerably over the decades in areas including infrastructure, tourism, trade, housing, education and technical assistance.
Among the most prominent Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in the Maldives is the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which connects Malé with Hulhulé and Hulhumalé. The bridge opened in 2018 and has since become a major transport link in the Greater Malé region.
China has also supported housing and other infrastructure projects in the country, while Chinese tourists have historically represented an important market for the Maldivian tourism industry.
Economic ties have expanded further with the implementation of the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force at the beginning of 2025.
Muizzu has continued high-level engagement with Beijing since his 2024 state visit. He met Xi again during a visit to China in August 2025, when discussions covered economic development, trade and investment, security cooperation and people-to-people relations.
The President also attended a reception in Malé last week commemorating China’s 77th National Day, where he highlighted infrastructure, education, technical training and institutional support as areas in which Chinese cooperation has contributed to the Maldives.
In his latest message, Muizzu said the Maldives would continue working to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and take bilateral relations to a higher level.
He concluded by expressing hope that ties between Maldivian and Chinese citizens would continue to deepen, while wishing China continued progress, prosperity and success.
