Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts Ibrahim Waheed has participated in a high-level youth dialogue in Beijing, hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC).

The event, titled “CPC in My Eyes: A Dialogue with Youth of Neighboring Countries,” brought together nearly 100 young leaders, think tank representatives, and diplomats from 15 South and Southeast Asian nations to discuss regional development and international cooperation.

During the dialogue, IDCPC Minister Liu Haixing emphasised the pivotal role of youth in shaping global relations and expressed China’s readiness to strengthen engagement with young leaders across the region. In a subsequent bilateral meeting with Liu, Minister Waheed discussed the deepening ties between the Maldives and China, noting that the relationship has reached new heights following recent discussions between President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and President Xi Jinping.

Minister Liu suggested that both nations could further align their development strategies, specifically through policy coordination and expanded exchanges involving youth, women, and media sectors.

In response, Minister Waheed described China as a sincere and long-standing friend of the Maldives, citing the China–Maldives Friendship Bridge as a primary example of cooperation that has yielded tangible benefits for the Maldivian people. He reaffirmed President Dr Muizzu’s commitment to fortifying these ties and expressed the Maldives' readiness to expand practical cooperation across multiple sectors, with a particular focus on youth engagement and people-to-people relations.