The essence of the Maldivian identity is independence and freedom, says Mohamed Faisal. Photo: Courtesy of Mohamed Faisal

On July 26, the Republic of Maldives will celebrate its 51st anniversary of independence. Fifty-one years ago President Ibrahim Nasir signed a historic agreement with the British government securing full independence for the Maldives after years as a British protectorate. 

Since independence, the Maldives has become one of the most dynamic economies in South Asia on the back of a tourism industry that is today the envy of the world.

The Maldives is heralded as a success story. In the early 1980s, with a population of 156,000, the Maldives was one of the 20 poorest countries in the world. Today, the country's population is over 350,000, and it is a middle-income country with a per capita income of over $6,300. The Maldives also has some of the best social indicators in the region and is one of the highest ranked in terms of human development in South Asia. 

Under the dynamic leadership of President Abdulla Yameen, who assumed the presidency in 2013, the Maldives has embarked on a historic and ambitious project of economic transformation and nation building. A transformation that will be driven by the vitality of our youth, enterprising businesses, and facilitative government policies. The aim is to diversify the country's economy, harness the true potential of the Maldives' strategic location, and make it an economic giant of the Indian Ocean. The ultimate aim is to double the nation's per capita income and uplift the lives of the hundreds of thousands who call this island nation home. 

To enable this transformation, the government has instituted liberal investment policies, including the enactment of a Special Economic Zones Act to attract foreign companies to the country. The Maldives is indeed one of the most beautiful countries and also one of the best places to do business in the world.

As our president noted during his Golden Jubilee address to the nation in 2015, economic prosperity is a prerequisite for the people to reap the fruits of independence. Furthermore, social harmony, peace, and prosperity cannot be achieved without economic self-determination and improved standards of living.

We have maintained exceptional relations with all members of the global community. Our foreign policy respects the laws and traditions of our neighbors and friends, as well as their territorial integrity and sovereign rights. We are also proactively forging and strengthening friendly and mutually-beneficial ties with every country that respects our independence and sovereignty.

In 1972, we signed an agreement with China establishing diplomatic relations, a relationship that has grown by leaps and bounds ever since. Today, China is one of the Maldives' closest development partners, and the special relationship with China has been emboldened by enhanced commercial and trade links.

As we celebrate the 51st anniversary of our independence, the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge project and the Airport Expansion Project, two of the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the country, are underway with generous Chinese assistance. There is no doubt that China will be a significant partner as the Maldives looks to achieve new heights in economic and social development in the new century.

As Maldivians, we hold the values of independence and freedom as the essence of our identity. We look to harness the youthful energy of our population, the wisdom of our elders, and lessons from our forefathers to achieve a new level of development. Our Independence Day celebration is indeed one of joy and promise. With the assistance of our friends, we can usher in a new era of prosperity for the country. 

The author is the Maldives Ambassador to China, Mohamed Faisal.