The good-neighborly and friendly relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Maldives continued to develop in a healthy and steady manner in 2009.
The two sides maintained high-level contacts. In June, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the NPC Standing Committee sent a congratulatory message to Abdulla Shahid, Speaker of the People's Majlis of Maldives on his assumption of office. Premier Wen Jiabao exchanged views with President Nasheed of Maldives and leaders of other developing countries in a group meeting during the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change on 17 December. Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue and State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Naseem held the fourth round of bilateral diplomatic consultations in Malé on 27 December. Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue also met with President Nasheed, Foreign Minister Shaheed, deputy leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party Zaki and leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party Gayoom.
Contacts between political parties of the two countries developed continuously. Zhang Gaoli, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee headed a CPC delegation to Maldives from 5 to 7 September and met with President Nasheed, deputy leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party Zaki and leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party Gayoom respectively. A delegation of the Maldivian Democratic Party led by Maldivian Presidential Political Advisor Hassan visited China from 13 to 17 October, and met with Wang Gang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Zhang Gaoli, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee.
Positive progress was made in their exchanges and cooperation in the fields of defense, radio, television & film and culture. Minister of Defense and National Security Faisal of Maldives paid a visit to China from 18 to 22 February. General Liang Guanglie, State Councilor and Minister of Defense of China held talks with him on regional and international security issues of mutual interest. Wang Taihua, Director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television visited Maldives and attended the launching ceremony for the broadcasting of CCTV 4 and CCTV 9 in capital Malé and its surrounding islands on 21 October. Culture Minister Cai Wu headed a cultural delegation of the Chinese government to Maldives from 21 to 23 October and met with Maldivian Vice President Manik, Minister Sawad of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Vice Foreign Minister Didi.
Economic cooperation and trade advanced continuously. China continued to provide assistance to Maldives within its capabilities. The Maldivian national museum, a China aid project, made steady progress. Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan led a Chinese government business delegation to visit Maldives from 24 to 26 March. He met with Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed, Minister Rasheed of Economic Development and Minister Aslam of Housing, Transport and Environment and signed the bilateral economic and technical cooperation agreement.