Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Assalam alaikum and a very good evening. 

Tomorrow is our 61st anniversary of independence. Certainly, a joyous occasion for any nation. 

Made even more special with your presence here with us. 

A heartfelt welcome to all of you here today. 

I wish to acknowledge the presence of His Excellency Dr Khalilur Rahman, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Special Guest of the Government of Maldives to participate in the events marking the 61st Independence Day. 

Thank you, my dear colleague, for being here. 

The Minister has also been elected as the President of the General Assembly. I congratulate him on this achievement and wish him the best. 

I wish to also acknowledge the presence of my fellow cabinet colleagues: 

The Minister of Economic Development, Transport, and Trade, His Excellency Mohamed Saeed

The Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture, and Ocean Resources, His Excellency Ahmed Shiyam

And the Minister of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy His Excellency Ali Shareef

Welcome to all. 

For much of history, nations have been measured by what they own.  

The size of their territories. 

The strength in their economies. 

The resources they command. 

And, the power they are able to project. 

Imagine, for a moment, the Maldives in 1965.  A newly independent nation taking its first steps into the international community. 

No vast territory. No large economy. No abundance of resources. No hard power to project beyond our shores.

By conventional measures, this did not look like a country that would survive – let alone succeed. 

There was little to indicate the journey that lay ahead. 

But what we had was our independence. 

Independence gave us the freedom to shape our future, the freedom to pursue our foreign policy, and the freedom to define our own path. 

But from the very start, we knew that independence alone would not be enough.

It was the friendships we forged, the partnerships we built, and the trust we earned among nations that gave us the strength to walk that path.

The story of the Maldives was never written alone.

It was shaped by the many countries and the many partners who stood with us as we found our place in the world.

Many of the nations represented here tonight have been part of that journey.

You supported our aspirations. Invested in our people. And, opened doors for cooperation to better engage with the world.

For that friendship, and for that trust, we remain deeply grateful.

Over the past six decades, the Maldives has transformed in ways that few could have foreseen. 

We have built a world-renowned tourism sector.

We have led the way in sustainable fisheries. 

We have expanded our international partnerships.

We have become a committed voice on issues including climate change, sustainable development, and the protection of our shared ocean.

Our progress was always defined by our willingness to engage, adapt, and contribute.

Our experience has taught us an important lesson.

Vulnerability does not diminish our capacity to make a difference.

If anything, it gives us a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the world.

As a Small Island Developing State, we understand adaptation because we live with its realities.

We understand sustainability because our future depends on it.

We understand cooperation because no nation can meet today’s challenges alone. 

Especially a small one. 

The question before us is not whether a small state can contribute.

The question is how we can contribute more.

Today, the world faces challenges that do not recognise borders.

Climate change is accelerating.

Economic uncertainty is affecting communities everywhere.

Geopolitical tensions are placing greater pressure on the international system.

In this environment, cooperation is the foundation upon which our shared future depends.

The Maldives will continue to support an open, rules-based international order where all states have their sovereignty respected, their voices heard, and their interests protected.

We stand for dialogue, and diplomacy. 

We support multilateralism and international cooperation. 

These are the fundamentals of President Dr Muizzu’s Maldives First Foreign Policy

Protecting our interests, while contributing to make the world better. 

Making our voices heard, especially on issues near and dear to us.

This is why we are seeking membership of the Human Rights Council for the term 2028-2030.

And why we will be a member of the Economic and Social Council for the term 2027-2029. 

This is why we are seeking membership of the Security Council for the term 2033-2034. 

This is why we are seeking to host Conferences, workshops, and seminars here in the Maldives.

Including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2028. 

Because we do not believe – for one second – that size determines destiny. 

Our shores remain open for friends who respect us, for partners who value us, and for investments that nourish us. 

As we celebrate our independence, we also renew our invitation to our friends and partners.

Come and experience the warmth of the Maldives and the hospitality of our people.  

Come and explore opportunities to invest, innovate, and build with us.

Come and be part of a future shaped by partnership, resilience, and shared ambition.

It’s only been a few months since I have taken on this role of Minister. 

If you ask me what it is like on any given day: The answer is actually quite simple.

If the phone does not ring, you start wondering what's wrong.

If it does ring, you wonder what is wrong.

But jokes aside, I want to take a moment to say thank you.

People often see the pictures. They hear the speeches. They read the press releases. 

These make the headlines.

What they don’t always see are the conversations that happen before the meeting. 

The calls made across time zones. 

The relationships built over years. 

The trust that is earned long before agreements are signed or announcements are made.

That is the true work of diplomacy.

And it is work that none of us do alone.

And for that, once again, I thank you for your friendship and your partnership.

You have certainly made my job easier, and far more meaningful.

Sixty-one years ago, the Maldives asked the world to recognise a new nation.

Today, we stand as a partner ready to cooperate, contribute, and build together.

We remember those who believed in us at the beginning.

We value those who stand with us today.

And we welcome those who will shape the future with us tomorrow.

Because the story of the Maldives has always been built through partnership.

And the next chapter will be no different.

I also wish to thank my team – Team Khaarijee – for their team spirit, professionalism, and their excellent work. 

I thank you.

 

Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy His Excellency Ali Shareef,

Managing Director of Housing Development Cooperation Brigadier General (Retired) Ali Zuhair,

Ambassadors, High Commissioners, distinguished guests, and dear colleagues, 

Assalamalaikum and a very good evening to you all. 

It is a pleasure to welcome you here today as we come together to mark World Environment Day through this tree planting initiative. 

We gather here, around a simple but powerful idea. 

Sixty trees for sixty years.

The significance of this initiative lies in what it represents. 

This year, the Maldives is marking sixty years of its independence.

Over six decades, we have moved…
 
…from the foundations of statehood to the strengthening of our democratic institutions
…from defining our identity to establishing our place in the international community.

It has been a journey of nation-building, adaptation, and resilience.

That work continues today as we confront new challenges built on the progress we have achieved.

It is therefore fitting that we mark this milestone through an environmental initiative.

Our story on the international stage is inseparable from the environment itself.

We are a nation whose voice is both respected and heard in global discussions on climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development. 

Successive generations of leaders and diplomats have worked to ensure that the concerns of Small Island Developing States are reflected in international decision-making.

For the Maldives, protecting the environment means protecting our people, livelihoods, economy, and culture.

Climate change is our present reality. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, shifting weather patterns, and growing pressure on fragile ecosystems underscore the urgency of climate action.

While global cooperation remains essential, resilience must also be built at home through sustained effort and shared responsibility.

It must be across our society.

Environmental advocacy is more than international agreements alone. 

It must also be reflected in the choices we make, as governments, as institutions, as communities, and as individuals.

This event reflects the vision of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who has placed sustainability at the centre of national development, with a focus on building greener, healthier and resilient communities.

The President’s 5 million trees-planting initiative is guided by the principle that sustainability is a shared responsibility : demanding the active partnership of the government, the private sector, civil society, and individual citizens alike. 

And it is through this shared effort that climate resilience is built. 

Today's initiative reflects that vision in action.

And, there is perhaps no better setting for this initiative than Hulhumalé.

The diplomatic enclave that is being developed in Hulhumalé, will become our home. 

For many members of the diplomatic community, Hulhumalé is infact already home. And for many of our staff too.

It is where your families are raised, your children grow, and where an important part of our national future is being written.

Every plant we place in the ground today represents an investment in that future.

It will contribute to making Hulhumalé greener, healthier, and more resilient. And in turn, our country more sustainable, and resilient. 

As we mark World Environment Day and sixty years of independence, we turn our focus to the future.

The choices we make today will shape what the next generation inherits.

Let the sixty trees we plant together stand as living symbols of what we build, and what we choose to preserve.

I take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, especially the Five Million Tree Programme Unit, the Housing Development Corporation, the Ministry staff, and all those who contributed to making this initiative possible.

I also thank the diplomatic community present here today. 

Together, you have helped turn this initiative into a meaningful expression of our collective responsibility to the environment and to the generations that will follow.

I thank you.

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.