The Maldives and China have exchanged 20 key agreements, marking a significant step in bilateral relations. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and President Xi Jinping presided over the signing ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing.
The agreements include the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Disaster Management Authority of the Maldives and the Ministry of Emergency Management of China on Cooperation in The Area of Disaster Risk Reduction. They also include the MoU on Deepening Blue Economy Cooperation between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources of Maldives as well as the MoU on Strengthening Investment Cooperation in the Digital Economy between the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology of Maldives and the Ministry of Commerce of China.
Other agreements include the MoU on Promoting Investment Cooperation in Green Development between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Maldives and the Memorandum of Cooperation between China Media Group and Public Service Media (PSM). The two countries also signed the MoU on Jointly Accelerating the Formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road Initiative and the MoU on Strengthening Digital Economy Cooperation.
Additionally, the two countries signed the MoU on Human Resource Development Cooperation and the MoU on Exchange and Cooperation in the Field of Economic Development Policy. Other agreements include the MoU on Technical Cooperation of Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and the MoU between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare of the Maldives on Strengthening of Agricultural Cooperation.
The Maldives and China also signed an agreement on the Action Plan for Building a China-Maldives Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (2024-2028), the Grant Assistance between the two countries, as well as an MoU on Cooperation on Green and Low-Carbon Development. Other agreements include the MoU on the development of the Social Housing Project on Fushidhiggaru Falhu, Expansion of Velana International AIrport, Fisheries Products Processing Factories and Re-development of Male’ and Villimale’ Roads Development Projects.
Furthermore, the Maldives and China signed the MoU on Marine Cooperation Toward Blue Partnership and Tourism Cooperation and exchanged letters on the Coconut Tree Pest Control Assistance Project, and the Feasibility Study on Laboratory Equipment for Seventeen Health Facilities Project. The two countries further signed an MoU on News Cooperation between PSM and Xinhua News Agency.