Honorable Mr. Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Construction and Infrastructure,

Honorable Mr. Mohamed Amir, President of K. Kaashidhoo Council,

Honorable State Ministers, Deputy Ministers & Senior officials from various Ministries and Island Council,

Respected Ms. Kong Qingyun, General Manager of Jiangsu Fenghai New Energy Seawater Desalination Development Co. Ltd,

Mr. Mao Bao, Chairman of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Maldives,

Respected representatives of the Chinese Companies in Maldives,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen，

Dear friends,

Very good afternoon!

It gives me great pleasure to come to the beautiful Kaashidhoo island to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the China Aided Project of Micro-Grid Seawater Desalination Plants on five islands of Maldives. On behalf of the Embassy of China to Maldives, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the inauguration of this project! I believe that the project will play an important role in improving the people’s livelihood and well-being in the Maldives. In particular, those plants are completely powered by new energy, which will help achieve the 33% new energy goal announced by President Muizzu. I was told that the plant on Kaashidhoo island is the only operational wind powered plant in Maldives. It will become a good example for green and sustainable development.

Over the past 4 years, Chinese Company overcame various difficulties and completed the construction, installation, commission and training work with high quality. The relevant Maldivian government authorities like the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure and Kaashidhoo Island Council have given great support and help to the Chinese enterprise. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to them!

China and the Maldives are close neighbors, and the traditional friendship between the two peoples dates back to ancient times. Over the past 52 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, our two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, helped each other with sincerity, and firmly supported each other on the issues related to our respective core interests and major concerns. China-Maldives relationship has become a model of friendly exchanges, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes in the world.

In November, 2023, H.E. Shen Yiqin, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping and State Councilor of China attended the inauguration ceremony of President Muizzu and paid a friendly visit to Maldives. Early January this year, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Dr. Muizzu paid a very successful and fruitful state visit to China. Two heads of states agreed to elevate our bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, reached important consensus on further promoting exchanges & cooperation in various fields. This visit has opened a new chapter for China-Maldives friendly cooperation and will take our bilateral relations to a new high.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

China has always adhered to the foreign policy of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, China is ready to work hand in hand with all countries including Maldives to advance the great cause of building of a community with a shared future for mankind through high-quality Belt & Road cooperation and implementation of GDI GSI&GCI. According to consensus reached by the leaders of our two countries, we will expand cooperation in the fields of new energy, environmental protection, infrastructure and so on, so as to bring more tangible benefits to the Maldivian People and promote the sustainable development of Maldives. I firmly believe that China-Maldives friendship and cooperation is truly people-oriented and will surely embrace a brighter and more prosperous prospects!

Thank you!