Maldives’ new government is committed to strengthening ties between China and Maldives, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the first cross-sea bridge in the Maldives, opened to traffic on August 30. (Photo: Xinhua)

Lu said that Chinese ambassador to the Maldives Zhang Lizhong had recently congratulated president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on behalf of Chinese leaders, and Zhang stressed China’s friendly policies to the Maldives.

In Zhang’s talk with Solih, Zhang said that China is willing to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, to lift China-Maldives relations to a new level.

Solih had asked Zhang to send his kind regards and good wishes to Chinese leaders, and appreciates China’s contributions to Maldives’ development, Lu noted.

“The new government of Maldives will be devoted to strengthening China-Maldives ties, following cooperation agreements that have been signed between the two countries and further implementing current cooperation projects,” Solih told Zhang. He also hopes to further discuss the cooperation in social development, infrastructure and tourism, and to further develop China-Maldives ties.

“Much cooperation between China and Maldives  focuses on promoting the social and economic development of Maldives, and contributing to the improvement of the country and its people’s livelihood,” added Lu. “We’ve noted that there are some people or forces that would not like to see a smooth development of China-Maldives cooperation, but Solih clearly told Zhang that Maldives appreciates China’s help over the years and will further carry out the agreements signed between the two countries and the cooperation projects agreed on by the two countries.”