China has assured to continue to promote cooperation with the Maldives within the Belt and Road Initiative.
Answering a question posed by a journalist, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Hua Chunying, expressed that Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid's comments during an interview to Xinhua showed the goodwill of the new government of Maldives to promote the development of relations with China.
During an interview to Xinhua news, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid commenting on the China-Maldives ties said, he has seen the relationship between China and Maldives grow increasingly strong, expressing hope to maintain the momentum.
Foreign Minister also thanked China for being a generous friend of Maldives.
Responding to comments of Minister Shahid, spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry said Minister Shahid's positive comments on the relations and bilateral cooperation between China and the Maldives within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative have reflected the good will of the new government to develop China-Maldives relations noting China appreciates it.
According to Hua, China and the Maldives have recently kept promoting cooperation on infrastructure and livelihood projects in the Maldives, which has promoted the transformation and upgrading of the Maldives' economy and improved the living conditions of the Maldivian people. Hua noted, especially in August this year, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge was completed and opened to traffic, making the century-old dream of the Maldives to have a cross-sea bridge come true. The bridge has not only promoted the infrastructure interconnectivity in the Maldives and boosted the country's development, but has also greatly facilitated the travel of local residents. It has been warmly welcomed by the Maldivian people, highlighted Hua.
The spokeswoman also said that the Chinese government will consolidate friendship and strengthen cooperation with the Maldives in the future. China will work with the new Maldivian government to consolidate traditional friendship, strengthen the complementarity of development strategies and make good plans for bilateral practical cooperation, affirmed the spokeswoman reiterating to continue to promote mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and instill new impetus and contents into the comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership between China and the Maldives in the future.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.