Good morning diplomacy: the Chinese ambassador charming Maldivians one post at a time
A conversation with Ambassador Kong Xianhua.
Artwork: Dosain
07 Jul, 3:54 PM
Maldivians aren't used to diplomats so active on social media. Since arriving on April 25, Kong Xianhua, the new Chinese ambassador to the Maldives, has won over locals with his good morning greetings and earnest engagement on X (formerly Twitter). His daily posts showcase the Chinese-built Sinamalé bridge alongside shots of beaches and ocean views. As some X users quipped, he has done more to promote Maldives tourism than Liverpool football club, an official destination partner.
The Maldives Independent spoke with the ambassador about his early impressions of the Maldives, his social media approach and his distinctive communication style.
MI: What specific cultural aspects have impressed you most during your first months here?
Actually, I have been here for two months. A little bit more than two months.
There are four aspects of the Maldives that impress me the most. First, the people. Maldivian people are warmly genuine and gracefully self-assured. As for me, it is always very comfortable to be among the Maldivian people.
I'll give two examples. When I first came here, I noticed that there is no traffic light on the street. I was wondering how could I get across the road. So many motorcycles, very busy roads. I noticed those two-wheelers or four-wheelers, they would stop for me. That's very impressive. And now I get used to that. I will slow down, pay attention, and generally speaking, Maldivians friends will give way to pedestrians.
And the other example, you might have read that article I shared on my X account. One day, a young lady from China lost her purse on the bus. Shortly afterwards, the conductor found her wallet, and returned it to her. It's also very impressive. I spent quite a few years here in the South Asian countries. I think the Maldives is right now one of, if not the most, civilised societies.
The second aspect is the history. Your country has a long history of independence and sovereignty, like thousands of years. In the 16th century, you terminated the colonisation of the Portuguese within only 15 years. Maldivians should be very proud of your ancestors. China and the Maldives have a recorded history of friendship for more than 600 years.
The third aspect is the culture. Take the dhoni [traditional Maldivian boat], the lovely ship as an example. My Maldivian friends told me that a dhoni is made without a single nail. And the design of the dhoni is in the mind of the craftsmen, passed down through generations orally. That's remarkable. And the beautiful dress for ladies. I think it's called Dhivehi libaas. I saw that in the Expo 2025. It's very beautiful and a very unique design.
The Maldivian artists are very creative thanks to the inspirations of the beautiful environment. I bought a picture of lion fish made by coral reef fragments and fish bones. Very beautiful, very creative. And I showed it to my wife. I sent her a picture. She loves it very much and so do her friends.
Last but not the least, the most important thing, the beauty of nature. When my plane approached Malé two months ago, I looked out of the window. I saw those islands. There's a metaphor about the Maldives – it's a pearl necklace scattered on the Indian Ocean. That’s when I started to understand the real meaning of that metaphor. These four aspects gave me the deepest impression.
How does the Maldives compare to other countries where you've served?
Maldives is very unique, very different from other countries. I think there are at least three aspects.
First is the combination of purity of nature and modern civilisation. Nowadays, the life in the Maldives is actually very developed. You are living in a modern society. The consumption level here in the Maldives is pretty high. Meanwhile, you manage to protect your environment. The water is still clean and turquoise. It's very unique and to be cherished.
And second is equality. The Maldivian society cherishes equality. I noticed that gender-equality is cherished here in the Maldives. Boys and girls, men and women, almost no difference. That is fantastic.
And the third is the inclusiveness. I had some meetings with Maldivian officials since my arrival. All of them mentioned livelihood welfare during our meetings. They pay great attention to livelihood welfare.
And in the speeches delivered by his excellency President Dr [Mohamed] Muizzu, I noticed that people is always the focus. These three aspects in my view make the Maldives quite different from other countries.
You're quite active on social media with daily "Good morning, Maldives!” posts. Is that part of a public diplomacy strategy?
That's not a strategy. Getting to know people always starts with a warm greeting. Actually, I started doing this when I was in Mumbai. And now in the Maldives, I have two more reasons to continue this practice.
One reason is the beauty I just mentioned. I cannot help sharing what I'm seeing here in the Maldives with people all around the world.
And the other reason is the people. Maldivian friends are very nice people. They not only give me wise advice about my daily life, but also about how to improve the China-Maldives friendship. So these two reasons encourage me to continue this practice.
How important is social media in modern diplomatic work, especially in a digitally connected country like the Maldives?
President Xi Jinping often quotes a Chinese old saying: "The state-to-state relations depend on friendship between their peoples." As diplomats, we are a bridge between our peoples. So we should contact the Maldivian people directly and extensively and also be seen by more Maldivian friends. And this is what a digital social media can provide.
We study the advice from the Maldivian friends very carefully. We hope that one day in the future, some of this advice could be converted into real cooperation projects.
Do you manage your social media accounts personally, or do you have a team helping you?
It's quite common for an ambassador [to have a busy schedule]. So I do have a team. I personally initiated this practice. Now I have a small team assisting me. But whenever it is possible, I go post or reply by myself. I do enjoy sharing and having feedback, like a real connection with the people.
How would you describe your diplomatic communication style?
I grew up in an ordinary family in a rural area of China, and I worked in the finance sector for over three decades. And now I'm an ambassador. Thus my communication style is a reflection of my background, which is accessible and humble because I'm a common person.
And it's precise and pragmatic, for my mindset is heavily influenced by my business background. It's also open and inclusive for now I am a diplomat.
What message do you most want to convey to Maldivians about China?
As in the presentation I delivered in Addu high school, I mainly covered three aspects. One is the great achievement of Chinese modernisation. The second is the fruitful results of China-Maldives corporation. Third, I shared my opinions about the future of China-Maldives friendship.
I try to convey two main points to my audience. This is also the two points I'd like to convey to all my Maldivian friends. First, China is committed to journey together with the Maldives toward a shared future.
And second, there are unlimited opportunities in cooperation with China. I do hope more and more young Maldivian friends will consider China when they pursue higher education.
What aspects of Maldivian life and culture are you most looking forward to experience?
First of all, learn a little bit of Maldivian ocean wisdom. Maldivian people are people of the ocean. Now with the bridge, you're also people of the land.
In the long history the Maldivian people have mastered a profound harmony with nature through generations of accumulated wisdom, like fishing, navigating by stars, building a dhoni without nails. If possible, I would like to learn from that. I know it's very sophisticated, but I will try my best.
And second, be part of normal daily life of the Maldivian. I'm really looking forward to visiting markets, fish markets, sitting in a café – very popular here in Malé – or visiting a local friend's home so that I can have a better understanding of this country, of the local people, and that is of great importance for my work.
Last but not the least, I think I should not only enjoy my life here, but also add some something new to the Maldives. I'm looking forward to collaborating with Maldivian friends to co-create transformative initiatives in the Maldives, by developing green economy, blue economy, digital economy, and modern agriculture to make this beautiful country even more prosperous, peaceful, and beautiful.
We are at a very critical stage of history. Technology is developing very fast. We are facing huge potential. We should explore that potential together.
Thank you.
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
No comments yet. Be the first to join the conversation!
Join the Conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts under an alias and take part in the discussion. Independent journalism thrives on open, respectful debate — your voice matters.
