The Governor of the Yunnan Province of China, H.E. Mr. Chen Hao has paid a courtesy call on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The meeting was held this morning at the President’s Office.
At the meeting, Governor Chen stated that President Xi’s visit to the Maldives last year has contributed to building comprehensive relations and boosting bilateral ties between the two countries. Continuing in this regard, Governor Chen maintained that the main purpose of his visit to the Maldives was to boost bilateral relations between the Maldives and to follow up on the establishment of a Future-Oriented All-Round Friendly and Cooperative Partnership between the Government of Maldives and China, discussed during President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the Maldives.
Describing Yunnan province as the bridgehead that connects China to South and South East Asia, Governor Xi discussed with President Yameen, areas in which the Yunnan Provincial Government could extend assistance to the Maldives in the future. In this regard, Governor Chen explored possibilities of further enhancing cooperation between the Maldives and Yunnan in areas of infrastructural development, renewable energy, tourism and education.
At today’s meeting, Governor Chen officially invited the Maldives to attend the 3rd China-South Asia Exposition and the 23rd China Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair to be held in China from 12-16 June 2015. President Yameen thanked the Governor for extending the invitation and assured that a high-level delegation comprising of senior Government officials and the business community would be representing the Maldives at the Expo.
President Yameen briefed Governor on the key developmental projects of his Government and opportunities for investment in the Maldives. Further, the President and the Governor underlined the importance of building people to people relations between the Maldives and China.
President Yameen reciprocated Governor Chen’s interest in developing trade and commercial ties between the Maldives and Yunnan Provincial Government and assured that a framework of engagement would be established in the near future with advice from the Chinese Embassy in Male’. Furthermore, the President thanked the Yunnan Provincial Government for offering higher education scholarships for Maldivian youth in recognised institutions in the province.
President Yameen was joined at the call by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dunya Maumoon and Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
Governor Chen was joined at the call by the Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, Mr. Wang Fukang and other senior officials of the Yunnan Provincial Government.
