Maldives

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, the friendly and good-neighborly relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Maldives grew in a sound and steady manner with fresh progress in pragmatic cooperation in various fields.

The two countries maintained the momentum of high-level contacts. In March, President Mohamed Waheed sent congratulatory messages to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang after they took office. In November, President Xi Jinping, Vice President Li Yuanchao and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent messages of congratulations to the newly elected President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Vice President MohamedJameel Ahmed and Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon. In June, Minister of Economic Development Ahmed Mohamed led a delegation to the first China-South Asia Expo. In September, a government delegation from the Maldives attended the International Day of Peace activities in China and the China-South Asia Peace and Development Forum.

Smooth progress was made in economic cooperation and trade. Twoway trade reached US$89.68 million, an increase of 27.9% year on year. China continued to provide assistance within its realm of capabilities to the Maldives for its economic and social development. Construction undertaken by China with its concessional loans of 1,000 housing units in Hulhumale was completed and delivered to the Maldives. The Maldives set up an office in Kunming for trade and tourism promotion.

Cooperation in tourism, culture and defense deepened. A total of 302,000 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives in 2013, up by 45.1% year on year. China has become the largest source of tourists in the Maldives for four years running. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing and Hong Kong all have direct or chartered flights with Male, the capital. The Chinese "Peace Ark" hospital ship visited the Maldives and provided medical services for the local people.

The two countries maintained sound communication and collaboration in international and regional affairs and carried out close cooperation on human rights and climate change.