Discussions have been held between Maldives and China on extending China’s assistance to provide technical training for Maldivian prosecutors.
The talks took place during a meeting with a senior delegation from China’s Supreme People's Procuratorate, currently visiting the Maldives at the invitation of Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef.
The Chinese delegation is led by Shi Weizhong, Permanent Member of the Procuratorial Committee of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, he holds a rank equivalent to that of a Vice Minister in China.
During the meeting, held on Wednesday at Hotel Jen, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef welcomed the Chinese delegation and thanked them for accepting his invitation. He highlighted the importance of strengthening the long-standing friendship between the Maldives and China, as well as enhancing cooperation between the prosecution authorities of the two countries.
During the meeting, the two sides identified areas where China could assist in staff training and infrastructure development for the Prosecutor General’s Office. The Chinese delegation was also briefed on the office’s initiatives, including the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its case management system, the establishment of a filing system, and current infrastructure challenges.
Further discussions focused on financial crime investigations, including cybercrime, fraud, and money laundering, and the provision of technical assistance and specialised training to strengthen prosecutorial capacity in these areas.
In addition to the Prosecutor General, senior officials from the Prosecutor's Office attended the meeting. The Chinese delegation included Shi Weizhong, as well as deputy chief prosecutors, and senior officials from various states of China. The meeting was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Kong Xianhua.
This marks the first official visit by the heads of China’s Public Prosecution Agency to the Maldives, making it a historic milestone in bilateral cooperation.
During their visit, the delegation also met the Chief Justice of Maldives, Abdul Ghanee Mohammed, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan and Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen. The delegation also visited the building where the Prosecutor General's Office is located.