# Wang Lixin _4th Resident Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Maldives (2021–2024)_ - Type: Person - Also known as: Ambassador Wang Lixin, 王立新, H.E. Wang Lixin (王立新) - Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 Wang Lixin is a senior Chinese diplomat who served from September 2021 to December 2024 as the fourth resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Maldives, and the first woman to hold the post. Spanning the second half of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration and the first year of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's administration, she oversaw the commissioning of Velana International Airport's code-4F runway, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the January 2024 Beijing state visit elevating relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. ## Key facts - Malé tenure: Served as the fourth resident Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives from 6 September 2021 to December 2024 across the Solih and Muizzu administrations. - Summit agreements coordinated: Coordinated President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's January 2024 state visit to Beijing, producing 20 bilateral agreements and elevating ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. - Aviation milestone: Oversaw the 6 October 2022 commissioning of the USD 373 million, 3,400-metre code-4F runway and 45,000-tonne fuel farm at Velana International Airport. - Clean water & energy handover: Inaugurated the China-aided five-island wind- and solar-hybrid micro-grid seawater desalination project anchored on K. Kaashidhoo on 12 March 2024. - Overseas Asian postings: India, Embassy diplomatic staff; Singapore, Embassy diplomatic staff; Nepal, Political Counsellor; Maldives, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary - Maldivian administrations covered: Includes President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (2021–2023) and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu (2023–2024) ## South Asia diplomatic career and Malé ambassadorship _Explore Wang Lixin's postings in the MFA Department of Asian Affairs, Department of External Security Affairs, and the Embassy of China in Malé._ ## Bridging the Solih and Muizzu administrations in Malé _Wang Lixin's three-year tenure encompassed both the completion of Yameen-era mega-projects under President Solih and the comprehensive diplomatic realignment toward Beijing under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu._ **Key diplomatic and project milestones under Ambassador Wang Lixin** - Solih Administration Phase (Sep 2021 – Nov 2023): Project Completion & 50th Anniversary: Presenting credentials on 6 September 2021 as post-pandemic travel reopened, Wang focused on completing legacy Belt and Road works contracted before 2018, commissioning the 3,400-metre code-4F runway and fuel farm at Velana International Airport on 6 October 2022, restoring direct charter and commercial flights from China in early 2023, and publishing the embassy's 50th-anniversary archival series on bilateral infrastructure projects.. Key entregas: VIA code-4F runway (Oct 2022); resumption of direct China–Maldives flights (Jan–Feb 2023); 50th anniversary commemorations (Oct 2022). - Muizzu Administration Phase (Nov 2023 – Dec 2024): Strategic Partnership & 20 Summit Agreements: Following President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's inauguration in November 2023, Wang coordinated his 8–12 January 2024 state visit to Beijing—the first time a newly elected Maldivian president visited China before India. The summit elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and produced 20 agreements covering grant aid, Belt and Road cooperation, disaster risk reduction, and the digital and blue economies.. Key entregas: January 2024 Joint Press Communiqué; 20 bilateral agreements; 12 March 2024 inauguration of the five-island seawater desalination network on K. Kaashidhoo; preparations for the 1 January 2025 FTA entry into force. - 2024 Maritime Research & Defence Cooperation Controversies: In February and March 2024, Wang's tenure saw heightened regional scrutiny when the Chinese oceanographic survey ship Xiang Yang Hong 03 docked near Malé on 22 February 2024 for replenishment after operating in the Indian Ocean, followed on 4–5 March 2024 by the signing of a bilateral agreement on China's provision of gratis non-lethal military assistance to the Maldives National Defence Force as Indian military personnel prepared to withdraw.. Episodes: Port call of Xiang Yang Hong 03 (22 Feb 2024); MNDF gratis military assistance pact signed by Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon and Maj. Gen. Zhang Baoqun (4–5 Mar 2024). ## Timeline - 2021-09-06: Presents Letter of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Wang Lixin presents her credentials to President Solih at the President's Office in Malé as the fourth resident Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives. - 2022-10-06: Inauguration of Velana International Airport's 3,400m code-4F runway and 50th anniversary of ties. Joins Maldivian leaders to inaugurate the BUCG-constructed code-4F runway and fuel farm at Velana International Airport ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations on 14 October 2022. - 2024-01-11: State visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to Beijing upgrades bilateral partnership. Accompanies President Muizzu during his 8–12 January 2024 state visit to China, where Presidents Xi Jinping and Muizzu elevate ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and witness 20 bilateral agreements. - 2024-03-12: Inaugurates five-island micro-grid seawater desalination project following defence pact. Following the 22 February 2024 port call of Xiang Yang Hong 03 and the 4–5 March 2024 bilateral military assistance pact, Wang inaugurates the China-aided five-island wind-solar seawater desalination project on 12 March 2024. - 2024-12-02: Pays farewell call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and concludes Malé tenure. Pays her farewell call on President Muizzu on 2 December 2024 and departs Malé on 6 December 2024 ahead of the 1 January 2025 entry into force of the China–Maldives Free Trade Agreement. ## Sources - [New Chinese Ambassador presents credentials to the President](https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/25079). The President's Office (Maldives), 6 September 2021 - [Ambassador of China pays farewell call on the President](https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/32360). The President's Office (Maldives), 2 December 2024 - [Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin presents Letter of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih](https://mv.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sgsd/202109/t20210909_9615118.htm). Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Maldives, 9 September 2021 - [Story Telling on 50 Years of China-Maldives Diplomatic Ties — The Inauguration Ceremony of the New Runway of Velana International Airport](http://mv.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zt/zmjj50zngsh/202210/t20221012_10782292.htm). Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Maldives, 12 October 2022 - [Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Wang Lixin at the Inauguration Ceremony of China Aided Project of Micro-Grid Seawater Desalination Plants in Maldives](http://mv.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/mytz/202403/t20240312_11259479.htm). Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Maldives, 12 March 2024 - [Key agreements exchanged between the Maldives and China](https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/29600). The President's Office (Maldives), 10 January 2024 - [Joint Press Communiqué between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Maldives (Beijing, 11 January 2024)](http://mv.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zmgx/zywx/202602/t20260201_11848754.htm). Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Maldives, 11 January 2024 - [China, Maldives upgrade ties with infrastructure deals in pivot from India](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/11/china-maldives-upgrade-ties-with-infrastructure-deals-in-pivot-from-india). Al Jazeera, 11 January 2024 - [Chinese research ship set to dock at Maldives port amid India's security concerns](https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3252805/chinese-research-ship-set-dock-maldives-port-amid-indias-security-concerns). South China Morning Post, 22 February 2024 - [After giving India's troops their marching orders, Maldives signs defence deal with China](https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3254227/after-giving-indias-troops-their-marching-orders-maldives-signs-defence-deal-china). South China Morning Post, 5 March 2024 - [Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin bids farewell after concluding tenure in Maldives](https://edition.mv/maldives_film_industry/38020). The Edition, 6 December 2024 --- Canonical URL: https://www.goodmorningmaldives.com/entities/wang-lixin Source: Good Morning Maldives. Cite the canonical URL when quoting.