BEIJING - President Xi Jinping arrived in Male on Sunday for a state visit to Maldives, the first of its kind since the two countries established diplomatic ties 42 years ago.

The following are some major events about China-Maldives cooperation.

On Oct 14, 1972, China and Maldives established diplomatic relations.

On Oct 24-28, 1984, then Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom paid a state visit to China. The two sides signed two agreements, one concerning economic and technical cooperation and the other on mutual exemption of visas.

On Sept 11-13, 2006, Gayoom paid a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of then President Hu Jintao. The two heads of state reached comprehensive understandings on how to consolidate the China-Maldives traditional friendship and cooperation.

On Nov 8, 2011, China established an embassy in Male, the capital of Maldives.

On Sept 2-7, 2012, then Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed Hassan attended the second China-Eurasia Expo held in Urumqi, the capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Then Premier Wen Jiabao met with the president and pledged to boost bilateral cooperation in climate change and other areas.

On Aug 16, 2014, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen attended the opening ceremony of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu province, and paid a state visit to China.

The two sides pledged to enhance communication and cooperation on international and regional affairs to better cope with global challenges, including climate change. Yameen also expressed great interest in China's initiative to build a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.