Top Chinese legislator visiting Maldives

China’s top legislator, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo, is visiting the Maldives until May 31.

Wu is the most senior Chinese diplomat to ever visit the island nation, and Chinese and Maldivian flags have been set up along major streets of Male’.

Chinese news agency Xinhua interviewed Wu’s Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid, who visited the chairman in China in January.

“It was a very fruitful meeting. The fact that the chairman is conducting a visit to Maldives so soon after my visit shows the importance that the chairman and China attach to Maldives,” Shahid told Xinhua.

“Next year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Maldives and China. Maldives and China have outstanding relations based on mutual trust, respect and friendship which is a solid foundation for any strong relationship. There are now direct flights between Maldives and China, which has increased the number of tourists from China to Maldives.”

Chinese tourist arrivals last year topped the Maldives’ traditional European market. Both the foreign ministry and the national museum were built with Chinese aid.

Chairman Wu will meet journalists tomorrow at the Maldives’ parliament building.

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