On November 9, 2011, President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed said his country attaches importance to developing its friendly and cooperative relations with China and will continue to firmly support China on issues concerning its core interests.

While meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, who led the Chinese delegation to the two-day 17th the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Maldives, Nasheed said Maldives and China share a profound traditional friendship. Sine the establishment of diplomatic ties 39 years ago, bilateral ties have always been developing steadily. Maldives attaches importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with China and will continue to firmly support China on issues concerning its core interests. He appreciated China's support for Maldives' economic and social development and hosting of the SAARC summit.

Nasheed said that Maldives welcomes China's increased participation in its economic construction, so as to tap the potential of bilateral cooperation in various fields and continuously improve the level of Maldives-China relations.

The Chinese Embassy in Maldives held the opening ceremony in Male, capital of Maldives on November 8.