President Muizzu Urges Global Unity for Justice and Peace in Palestine at SCO Plus Meeting

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has called upon the international community, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), to stand united in advocating justice, dignity, and peace for the people of Palestine. He made the remarks while speaking at the “SCO Plus” Meeting held on Monday in Tianjin, China.

Addressing global leaders, President Muizzu said the Maldives believed that every country, regardless of its size or geographical location, deserved to have its voice heard in international decision-making. He noted that the Global Governance Initiative (GCI), which President Xi Jinping proposed yesterday, had come at a vital time.

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“Excellencies, in this regard, the Maldives remain deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. We reiterate our unwavering support for their eligible right to self-determination and establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

His Excellency President Dr @MMuizzu delivers a statement at the “SCO Plus” meeting in Tianjin, China, held alongside the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The meeting provided a broader platform for engagement, bringing together SCO members, partner nations, and… pic.twitter.com/Ym1HbgCSLp— The President's Office (@presidencymv) September 1, 2025

President Muizzu observed that this year marked 60 years since the Maldives gained independence and joined the United Nations. He emphasised that the country remained steadfast in its commitment to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, as it was in 1965.

He has on numerous occasions condemned Israeli actions against Palestinians, describing them as violations of international law and human rights.

In his statement, President Muizzu positioned the Maldives as a resilient and forward-looking nation, highlighting its longstanding friendship with China, ambitious climate commitments, and the transformative “Maldives 2.0” digitalisation agenda. He reaffirmed the Maldives’ support for the GCI and called for greater inclusion of Small Island Developing States in global decision-making.

The “SCO Plus” Meeting began with opening remarks by President Xi, who underlined the importance of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the region and beyond through SCO initiatives. He also introduced the GCI, the latest in a series of frameworks aimed at reshaping international cooperation, development, and governance.

President Muizzu is currently in China to attend the SCO 2025 Summit, marking his third visit to China since he assumed office in November 2023. His first state visit took place in January 2024, during which 20 agreements, grants, and MoUs were signed across fields including disaster management, economy, public service media, human resources, and agriculture. He later visited Shandong Province in November 2024 to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).