At the invitation of H.E. Li Xiannian, Chinese President, H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Maldivian President paid an state visit to China in October of 1984, which was the first visit to China by a Maldivian president since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1972.

On October 25th, President Li held a grand ceremony outside the eastern entrance of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to welcome President Gayoom. The two presidents exchanged their views about China-Maldives relations and international issues.

Witnessed by the two presidents, the agreement between governments of China and Maldives on economic and technical cooperation and the agreement on mutual exemption of visa and visa fee were signed by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and Maldivian Foreign Minister Jameel.

On October 26th, Chairman of the Central Advisory Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Deng Xiaoping met with President Gayoom at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Chairman Deng said that although as one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China always belongs to the Third World and votes for them. China will never become a “superpower”.

Deng said Chinese love peace and need a peaceful international environment to ensure development and the attainment of the great goal.