President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has urged the international community to ensure greater inclusion of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in global decision-making processes. He made the call today while delivering a statement at the “SCO Plus” Meeting in Tianjin, China.

The meeting opened with remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stressed the importance of advancing peace, stability, and prosperity through the initiatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). President Xi also introduced the Global Governance Initiative (GCI), the latest in a series of proposals aimed at reshaping international cooperation, development, and governance.

In his address, President Dr Muizzu highlighted the Maldives’ role as a resilient and forward-looking nation, reaffirming support for the Global Governance Initiative. He pointed to the Maldives’ longstanding friendship with China, its ambitious climate action targets, and the transformative “Maldives 2.0” digitalisation agenda as examples of its commitment to progress.

The President also reiterated the Maldives’ unwavering support for the Palestinian people, urging the international community to stand united in defending their rights.

The “SCO Plus” Meeting serves as an expanded platform for dialogue, bringing together SCO member states, partner nations, and international organisations to address shared challenges in security, economic cooperation, and global governance.