MALE, Sept. 13 -- The well-known ancient Chinese navigator Zheng He's fleet visited Maldives twice in early 15th century, according to historical records. Chinese ancient porcelain wares and coins, displayed in Maldives'national museum in Male, witnessed the trade via the ancient Maritime Silk Road between China and Maldives.

Nearly 600 years later, with the introduction of the new vision of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, China and Maldives are presented with a great opportunity to comprehensively deepen relations, expand cooperation and cement the connections between the two countries.

China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, which Chinese President Xi Jinping brought up during a visit to Southeast Asia in 2013, has gained positive response and great attention from Maldives, China's ambassador to Maldives Wang Fukang told Xinhua in a recent interview.

In 2013, two-way trade between China and Maldives reached 98 million U.S. dollars, marking a 70-fold growth over the level of 2010. While more Chinese products are coming to the market in Maldives, aquatic products from Maldives such as tuna fish are appearing on more and more dinner tables in China.

The construction of infrastructure is a highlight of the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Maldives ' foreign ministry building and its national museum, which were built with the help from China, have become the new landmarks in the capital.

The Maldivian government has put forward a series of major measures recently, including the construction of a cross-sea bridge linking capital Male with the nearby Hulhule island and the establishment of a special economic zone in the north, which are all closely related to the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The country's longest high quality road will also be constructed by Chinese firms and Chinese firms will also participate in the expansion of the Male international airport.

Maldives, small in land area, but with more than 1,190 coral isles, and located in the central Indian Ocean, boasts rich maritime tourism resources.

More and more Chinese travelers are coming to the country, with the number of Chinese tourist arriving in Maldives hit a record high of 30,000 in 2013, accounting for 30 percent of Maldives' total foreign tourist arrivals in the year.

Qaisar Naseem, a resort manager in Paradise Island, the second largest island in the country, told Xinhua that Chinese travelers are the biggest guest source of the resort, accounting for 70 percent of the guests the resort receives.

While joking the island has a new name now -- Chinese Island, Naseem hopes that more and more Chines tourists will come here to enjoy the bright white beaches.

During a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen said his country would benefit from participating in the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and he is upbeat about expanding already positive engagement with China not only in tourism, but also in other areas such as port construction.