Beijing dismissed a former Maldivian president's remarks on China-Maldives cooperation as one-sided and disparaging on Tuesday.Mohamed Nasheed, who served as president from 2008 to 2012, has accused China of taking control of 17 islands in the Maldives, Times of India reported on Saturday.He said he will seek an international convention against what he called a land grab and will force China to sign it if he is returned to power.Nasheed's remarks, which echoed those he made last week, are pure fabrication and ridiculous, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday.I need to remind Mr Nasheed that it is ultimately up to people in the two countries to judge and say whether China-Maldives cooperation is in line with both sides' interests and whether it has benefited them and their people, he said.Geng added that the cooperation will not be denigrated by some individuals' one-sided remarks.In an article penned by Nasheed and published in The Indian Express on Feb 7, the former president said he fears the Maldives is being sold off to China.At a briefing the following day, Geng dismissed the claim as absolute nonsense. Cooperation between China and the Maldives is being carried out in the spirit of mutual respect and equality, and has played a positive role in helping the Maldives upgrade its economy and improve people's lives, he said.When Mr Nasheed was president, China also offered assistance to and conducted practical cooperation with his country, which led to enormous outcomes. Would Mr Nasheed call that a 'grab' as well? the spokesman said.China's assistance comes with no political strings and in no way impairs the sovereignty or independence of the Maldives, not to mention security in the Indian Ocean, Geng said on Thursday.The Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, descended into crisis on Feb 1 when its Supreme Court ordered the release of several jailed politicians and quashed a conviction against Nasheed, who lives in self-imposed exile. That decision was overturned on Feb 6.China has been following the situation closely and said it believes the dispute is the Maldives' internal affairs and should be solved through dialogue between the parties involved. free rubber bracelets80s rubber braceletshow to make your own silicone wristbands at homeembossed wristbandbracelet de securite pour personne agee
XIAMEN - The mainland will only open wider and wider to Taiwan, with ever-improving policies and services, according to top political advisor Wang Yang.Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks Tuesday at the 2018 annual conference of the summit for entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Strait.Noting the close bond between the mainland and Taiwan compatriots, Wang said the orientation of the mainland's policies has always provided excellent services to entrepreneurs from Taiwan.He highlighted the mainland's efforts in implementing a series of preferential policies, and the willingness to bring more convenience to cross-Strait trade and investment, as well as support to Taiwan businesses in sharing the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative.In contrast to the increasing uncertainty and destabilizing factors in the world economy this year, the robust growth in cross-Strait trade volume demonstrated the solid foundation and impetus of cross-Strait economic cooperation, said Wang.As long as we stick to the conviction that we are all of the same family, give full play to the role of entrepreneurs, and strengthen opening-up and cooperation, common development could be achieved, said Wang.Identifying peace and stability as a precondition for development and cooperation, he called on compatriots across the Strait to follow the tide of history, work together for the greater national interests, uphold the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle, resolutely oppose and contain Taiwan independence and keep the nation's destiny and the compatriots' well-being firmly in their own hands, so as to contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.Themed around new measures for industrial integration and sharing new business opportunities, the conference attracted over 1,000 attendees across the Strait.
