HAIKOU /China/, November 6. /TASS/. The resort city of Sanya plans to step up investment cooperation with the Republic of Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Sanya Daily newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, a Sanya government delegation visited the two countries last week. The trip was aimed at strengthening ties to promote cooperation in the marine economy, tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and finance.

During the visit, representatives of Sanya’s departments responsible for trade, investment, and tourism, along with officials from the city’s central business district administration, held meetings with government authorities and business representatives in the Maldives and the UAE, reaching a broad consensus on cooperation. These contacts are expected to further enhance the Hainan Free Trade Port’s openness.

In particular, delegation members held in-depth talks with executives of several Maldivian companies on the construction, repair, and import of yachts, as well as the supply of related components. Sanya representatives invited businesses from both countries to participate in a dedicated exhibition area at the China International Consumer Products Expo, held annually in Hainan in the spring. The discussions also covered the maintenance of high-end vessels, joint high-end vessel rental services, and the development of customized marine tourism products.

During meetings with Maldivian authorities, Sanya officials focused on advancing cooperation in marine fisheries, tourism, the yacht industry, aviation logistics, manufacturing, and vocational training. The two sides established contacts concerning the construction of a fisheries and maritime logistics hub on the southern Seenu (Addu) Atoll, the development of green energy, and seafood exports to global markets via Hainan Province. A bilateral intergovernmental memorandum on trade and economic cooperation was also signed, along with a framework agreement with a company on strategic cooperation in marine aquaculture.

During their visit to the UAE, the Sanya delegation traveled to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, holding talks with local investment companies. The government of China’s southernmost province also organized a seminar in the UAE devoted to the development of industries within the Hainan Free Trade Port. As a result, the parties strengthened ties in areas including culture, tourism and wellness travel, duty-free retail, cruise ships and yachts, cross-border financial services, as well as deep-sea projects and selective breeding initiatives in southern latitudes.