Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China Calls on President Nasheed

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Wu Bangguo has paid a courtesy call on President Mohamed Nasheed. The meeting was held at the President’s Office today.

Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress is making an official visit to the Maldives on the invitation of Speaker of People’s Majlis of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid.

At the meeting with Chairman Wu, President Nasheed extended the best regards and good wishes, on behalf of the government and people of the Maldives, to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, the government and the people of China.

Noting that China continues to be one of the major development partners of the Maldives, the President expressed his gratitude, and that of the people and the government of the Maldives, for the Chinese government’s contribution to the development of the Maldives.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Wu congratulated the Maldives on the successful constitutional reform, and impressive economic growth that followed the democratic transition.

On the bilateral relations, President Nasheed and Chairman Wu expressed enthusiasm to take the longstanding relations that the Maldives and China continue to enjoy to a new level through cooperation in new areas.

As 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and China, the President and the Chairman agreed to jointly celebrate the occasion.

The President and the Chairman held in depth discussions on extending the economic cooperation between the both countries.

Chairman Wu said China sought to maintain dynamic trade and economic relations with the Maldives.

On the existing development cooperation, the President highlighted the success of the project to build 1000 housing units in the Maldives with the aid of Chinese government under the government’s housing programme.

Further, the President and Chairman Wu agreed to finalize the details of an additional 1500 housing units, to be built in the Maldives with Chinese assistance, between the authorities of both countries.

Both the President and the Chairman also noted the increasing share of Chinese market in the Maldives tourism industry.

Among the other areas the President and the Chairman discussed climate change and the upcoming SAARC Summit to be held in the Maldives this year.

Discussing climate change, the President commended China’s efforts to tackle climate change.

On the SAARC Summit, Chairman Wu said China would provide assistance to the Maldives to prepare for the SAARC Summit and the Chinese government would participate in the summit as observers.

Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress Wu also briefed the President on his meeting with Speaker of the People’s Majlis Abdulla Shahid.

He said both sides were happy about the fruitful discussions at the People’s Majlis earlier today.

After the meeting, President Nasheed and Chairman Wu attended the ceremony held at the President’s Office to sign the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the government of China and the government of Maldives.

Under the agreement, the Chinese government will provide a grant of Renminbi Yuan 100 million to the Maldives.

Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Hussain Niyaz signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldivian government, while Deputy Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese government.