The Mayor of Suzhou, China, His Excellency Mr Qu Futian paid a courtesy call on Vice President Abdulla Jihad, this Thursday morning, at the President’s Office.
During the call, the Vice President highlighted that 2016 marks the 44th anniversary since bilateral relations were established between Maldives and China. Additionally, the Vice President and the Mayor of Suzhou discussed further strengthening the existing ties between the two nations in tourism, commerce, culture, education and health.
China is one of the largest markets for Maldivian Tourism, the Vice President said, noting that regular flights between the two countries, with an effort to increase such flights, could potentially increase opportunities for Chinese tourists to visit the Maldives. While the Mayor of Suzhou indicated that the number of tourists from China, to the Maldives, had almost doubled between 2014 and 2015, the Vice President expressed his hope that the number would increase significantly this year as well.
In addition the Vice President and the Mayor discussed climate change and the importance of working together in order to overcome such challenges.
The Vice President was accompanied at the meeting by the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Fathimath Inaya and Under Secretary at the President’s Office Mr. Mohamed Naseer.
