President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attended a welcome banquet on 31 August, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan.

The banquet, held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre, was organised in honour of visiting Heads of State and Government, as well as leaders of international organisations and multilateral agencies participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

President Dr Muizzu is visiting China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping to take part in the summit. This is his second official trip to China since assuming office in November 2023, signalling efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between the Maldives and China.

The SCO, established in 2001, is a regional body that promotes political dialogue, economic development and security collaboration across Eurasia. The organisation provides a platform for member and partner countries to address common challenges and pursue shared strategic priorities.