Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon, and Assalaamu Alaikum.
We meet at a time of profound global transformation. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate-related challenges, and growing pressures on multilateral institutions continue to reshape the international landscape.
In our interconnected world, events in one region can have implications well beyond their borders. This makes collaboration and mutual engagement more important than ever.
Against this backdrop, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East highlights the enduring importance of dialogue and diplomacy in safeguarding international peace and security. Beyond its humanitarian impact, the conflict has had significant repercussions for global stability and prosperity, while raising concerns about the capacity of the international system to respond collectively to emerging challenges.
For small island developing states such as the Maldives, the effects of such crises are often amplified, highlighting our vulnerability to external developments and the importance of a peaceful and stable international environment.
In the face of ongoing crises, collective action remains indispensable. No nation can address the complex challenges of our time alone. Our ability to build a more peaceful and secure world depends on learning the lessons of the past and having the courage to take affirmative action. Meeting these challenges will require unity and resolve, guided by a shared sense of purpose.
It is for these reasons that the Maldives chose to participate in this Forum. China has consistently emphasized consensus, common prosperity, and cooperative approaches to global challenges. These principles continue to resonate across our region, reflecting our aspirations for development and stronger regional ties.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China, and in particular Yunnan Province, has been a valued partner in the Maldives' development journey. Our friendship, forged across mountains and seas, is built on mutual respect, enduring goodwill, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our peoples.
Anchored by these principles, and by the Maldives' steadfast commitment to the One-China Principle, our bilateral relationship continues to flourish.
Over the years, cooperation across a wide range of economic and development sectors, supported by the Free Trade Agreement, has deepened the close partnership between our two countries. Today, China is one of the Maldives' largest trading partners and its largest source market for tourism.
Landmark projects such as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge have had a transformative impact on the Maldives, strengthening national connectivity. Today, the bridge stands as a lasting symbol of the friendship between our two countries and the tangible benefits of our cooperation.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s State Visit to China in 2024 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin in 2025 marked a new chapter in Maldives–China relations, culminating in the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Building on this foundation, we look forward to expanding cooperation, including through China’s four global initiatives, in ways that contribute to our national development priorities.
Yunnan Province, with its rich history as a gateway for cultural exchange and regional connectivity, embodies the spirit of openness and cooperation that this Forum seeks to promote.
While this is my first visit to Kunming, I had the pleasure of visiting China in 2017, and continue to carry fond memories of the warmth, hospitality, and friendship extended to me during that visit. Those memories serve as a personal reminder of the close bonds between our peoples and the enduring partnership between the Maldives and China.
As I conclude, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Governor of Yunnan Province, His Excellency Wang Yubo, the Organizing Committee, and the Government of the People's Republic of China for their warm welcome and hospitality, and for convening this important Forum—a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue and stronger regional cooperation.
Looking ahead, the Maldives guided by President Dr. Muizzu’s Maldives first foreign policy, remains committed to working closely with China and all our partners to strengthen ties and deepen mutual understanding. We look forward to building on the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and advancing our vision of a Maldives–China community with a shared future.
Ultimately, the strength of any relationship lies not only in shared interests, but in the trust, understanding, and goodwill that sustain it—values that will continue to guide relations between our two countries in the years ahead.
Thank you.