Maldives, China Discuss Expanding Healthcare Cooperation During Sichuan Visit

The Maldives and China have discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare, maternal and child health, and professional exchanges during a visit by a Maldivian health delegation to China’s Sichuan province.

According to Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Kong Xianhua, Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office Director-General Zhang Tao met a delegation led by Minister of State for Health, Family and Welfare Mohamed Mahir on 19 October.

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During the meeting, Zhang highlighted frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries and existing cooperation in maternal and child healthcare and youth exchanges.

She called for further collaboration in healthcare and programmes involving women and children.

SM Mohamed Mahir is leading a high-level health delegation on an official medical and health study tour in Sichuan, China (18–22 October), strengthening Maldives–China healthcare cooperation through exchanges on advanced medical technologies, hospital services, and the integration of traditional Chinese medicine. #MaldivesHealth #MedicalCooperation #Sichuan— Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare (@MoHmv) October 23, 2026

Mahir welcomed Sichuan’s development and thanked the provincial authorities for their support towards the Maldivian health sector. He also expressed interest in strengthening institutional exchanges and expanding healthcare cooperation.

The delegation visited hospitals, medical schools, pharmaceutical and medical enterprises, and a traditional Chinese medicine cultivation facility between 18 and 22 October.

According to Kong, the visits focused on medical services, research and manufacturing, standardised cultivation practices and quality traceability.

On October 19, Zhang Tao, Director-General of the Sichuan Foreign Affairs Office, met with a delegation led by Mohamed Mahir, Minister of State for Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives. (@MoHmv) Zhang noted frequent high-level exchanges, with strong cooperation in maternal and child health as well as youth exchanges. She called for deeper cooperation on exchanges related to women and children, as well as in the health sector. Mahir praised Sichuan’s development, thanked Sichuan for its support for the Maldives’ health sector, and expressed the hope to further deepen exchanges while strengthening cooperation. From October 18 to 22, the delegation visited well-known hospitals, medical schools, medical enterprises, and a traditional Chinese medicine cultivation site in Sichuan, learning about medical services, research and production, standardized cultivation, and quality traceability.— Ambassador Kong Xianhua (@China_Amb_Mdv) October 24, 2026

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare, Maldives Medical and Dental Council, Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Hulhumalé Hospital and Maldives National University.

The visit follows ongoing cooperation between the Maldives and Sichuan in maternal and child healthcare, including medical training programmes involving Chinese specialists.

Earlier this month, Chinese medical experts conducted training at Hulhumalé Hospital, while another exchange programme at Addu Equatorial Hospital on 18 and 19 October focused on maternal, reproductive and child health.

The Sichuan–Maldives maternal and child health exchange initiative has been implemented in both countries since 2025, with programmes aimed at improving clinical knowledge and professional capacity.