News Desk
TIANJIN, China, — In a compelling address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit’s “SCO Plus” meeting, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu called for urgent climate action, enhanced trade connectivity, and a revitalized multilateralism to address global challenges. Speaking to leaders including President Xi Jinping of China at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, President Muizzu outlined three key priorities for collaboration, emphasizing the Maldives’ role as a resilient small island developing state (SIDS) eager to deepen ties with the SCO.
President Muizzu opened by congratulating China for its successful SCO presidency and expressing gratitude for its warm hospitality. He also extended best wishes to Kyrgyzstan for its incoming presidency. Highlighting the Maldives’ historical ties to China, dating back to trade missions in 658 A.D., he described his nation as “resilient,” “innovative by necessity,” and “ambitious by design.”
The president’s first priority was climate action, which he called the SCO’s “defining legacy.” He underscored the Maldives’ vulnerability to climate change, noting its submission of bold Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, targeting a 1.52 million-tonne reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035 and 33 percent renewable electricity by 2028. However, he stressed that SIDS like the Maldives need accessible financing, technology transfers, and capacity building to meet these goals.
Welcoming the SCO’s designation of 2025 as the “Year of Sustainable Development,” President Muizzu urged members to make it a “Year of Implementation” through joint projects and digital transformation. Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, he called for a united commitment to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Second, President Muizzu advocated for the SCO to become a “dynamic engine” for trade, investment, and digital connectivity. As a Dialogue Partner, he highlighted the Maldives’ potential to expand intra-SCO trade through regional value chains, green technology, digital commerce, and smart logistics. He outlined the Maldives 2.0 initiative, which aims to transform the nation into a digital-first economy by modernizing digital and financial infrastructure, fostering e-commerce, startups, and digital services. Enhanced air and maritime connectivity, he argued, would underpin shared prosperity and inclusive growth.
Third, the president championed a new era of multilateralism rooted in the SCO’s “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual benefit, equality, and cultural diversity. He endorsed China’s Global Governance Initiative, proposed by President Xi, for its alignment with the U.N. Charter and its focus on reforming global governance to support developing nations. “Every country, regardless of size or geography, must have a voice,” President Muizzu said, emphasizing equity and shared progress.
Addressing global conflicts, President Muizzu expressed deep concern over the suffering of Palestinians, reaffirming the Maldives’ support for their right to self-determination and an independent state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He urged the SCO to advocate for justice and peace in the region.
Reflecting on the Maldives’ 60th anniversary of independence and U.N. membership, President Muizzu reiterated his nation’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. He highlighted the Maldives’ contributions in tourism, hospitality, and coastal protection, offering unique perspectives for SCO collaboration. He also called for people-centered development through investments in education, culture, and youth collaboration to foster trust and lasting peace.
Looking ahead, President Muizzu outlined the Maldives’ ambition to become a developed nation by 2040, with quality public services, dignified jobs, and a sustainable, digitally enabled future. He positioned the SCO as a key partner in this vision, seeking “pragmatic, principled, and future-oriented” cooperation.
