CIIC: Our countries have established the diplomatic relations for 37 years, but why your country just opened your embassy in china only last year? Could you tell us the reasons?

M: Opening embassies and maintaining the function we have expected is very expensive, not only from financial cause, but also for the people to work there, so we don’t have many embassies until four years ago. We only had three embassies all over the world until 2004, but now we have more embassies in different parts of the world. We have sprang our wings to more countries, now we have 12 embassies in different countries. That’s the reason why we can’t spend so much, but now increasingly, we would have our presence in different countries. After the opening the embassy, I believe there would be greater links between two countries and peoples. It provides better opportunities for two countries to cooperate in the future.

CIIC: With this embassy, China and Maldives would enjoy better bilateral relations in the future. During our long-time friendly relationship, could you just specify on the major aspects of cooperation?

M: China has been a very special important development partner even for us. China has helped us in many important projects in training which are very important to us. We have projects, housing for instance, for a long period of time. Recently, Chinese government has been assisting us in post-tsunami rehabitation and reconstruction in Maldives. The 2004 Asian Tsunami has destroyed many islands and seized many lives of Maldivians. Following this, Chinese government has given tremendous support for the Maldives. Internationally, we have worked with each other very closely, we share some ideas and some prospective on some international issues. We have not problems not for whatsoever in our relations.

CIIC: What do you think in which aspects; China and Maldives could further strengthen their bilateral relations.

M: I think trade and investment is one area, where there are lots of potential, We have our strength in terms of tourism sector, in this sector, we have many foreign parties investing in Maldives. This is one area the Chinese entrepreneurs could look at. Our tourism industry is growing very fast, it’s expanding its tourism hotels and resorts that gives lots of advantages and opportunities for investment. And next is trade, Maldives is doing more trade with China now, we have many business persons come to China, they are doing business there, so there are many opportunities for expansion. Maldives is a very small country, we like to do things small, from that aspect, you probably would not see sudden explosive things, but I think, it’s a gradual process that would bring benefit and advantages.