Chinese and Maldivian leaders agreed here Monday to establish a future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership between their two countries.
"For the sake of upgrading bilateral relations, and promoting the well-being of the two peoples as well as peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the two sides decided to establish a Future-Oriented All-Round Friendly and Cooperative Partnership," said a joint press communique released after the talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Xi arrived in Male Sunday for a state visit to the Maldives at Yameen's invitation. Monday's meeting was the second between the two presidents within a month.
On Aug 16, they met in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, before attending the opening ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Recalling their meeting in Nanjing, Xi said he hoped his Male trip would help boost cooperation between the two countries, especially on building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Xinhua reported.
Yameen reiterated the Maldives' support for China's proposal to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, adding that the island country was prepared to actively participate in relevant cooperation.
Xi said there was no problem in the China-Maldives relationship and that the two nations share the common willingness of cementing friendship and enhancing cooperation. The two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level contact, strengthen dialogues in various areas and at different levels, encourage and support exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislative bodies and social groups of the two countries.
During the talks, the two presidents agreed to set up a Joint Committee of Economic and Trade Cooperation and hold its inaugural meeting within the year, to plan for practical cooperation in different fields and promote the sustainable development of China-Maldives economic relations.
The Maldives is the second leg of Xi's ongoing four-country Asia trip, which will also take him to Sri Lanka and India.
