Op-ed: A mayor’s journey through Jiangsu

The following is an op-ed by Ismail Rafeeq, mayor of Fuvahmulah City, sharing his takeaways from a trip to Jiangsu.

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As Mayor of Fuvahmulah City, I was honored to join the Maldivian local government leaders’ delegation to Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China, from 24 to 27 June 2026. Covering Suzhou, Yancheng and Nanjing, the visit provided valuable knowledge and practical insights across urban planning, education, sustainable infrastructure, community governance, agriculture, heritage and economic development, with several lessons relevant to Fuvahmulah’s future development.

The delegation included the mayors of Fuvahmulah City, Addu City, Thinadhoo City and Kulhudhuffushi City, the presidents of the Island Councils of Filladhoo, Kendhoo, Maafushi and Ukulhas, and the Director General of the Local Government Authority.

Suzhou - Urban Planning, Tourism Education and City Cooperation

In Suzhou, we visited the Suzhou Vocational College of Tourism, where I was particularly impressed by its focus on traditional arts, crafts and heritage conservation, including teaching traditional skills to young people. The approach demonstrated how vocational education can simultaneously create employment opportunities, preserve cultural knowledge and strengthen authentic tourism experiences, offering valuable lessons for Fuvahmulah at a time we are focusing on integrating traditional crafts and heritage to strengthen both conservation and authentic local tourism.

At the Suzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, we observed how long-term development, land use, infrastructure and the city’s future vision are communicated through modern planning and visualization tools. This reinforced the importance of integrated urban planning and effective public communication of development plans.

Yancheng – Sustainable Infrastructure, Wetland Conservation and Community Governance

In Yancheng, we visited Fenghai New Energy Desalination Development Co., Ltd., gaining exposure to desalination and renewable energy technologies. These areas are particularly relevant to island communities such as Fuvahmulah, where sustainable water and energy solutions remain important development priorities.

During our meeting and dinner with the Secretary of the CPC Yancheng Municipal Committee, we discussed wetland management and conservation and its relevance to Fuvahmulah. Yancheng’s experience offered valuable perspectives on protecting and sustainably managing wetlands while balancing conservation with development. The discussion also highlighted opportunities for future knowledge exchange in wetland conservation, environmental monitoring and ecosystem management.

We also visited Xindu Subdistrict’s Community Governance Centre, where the “Red Grid” model and “Three Lists” case-tracking system demonstrated structured approaches to community participation, citizen concerns and accountability. The experience offered useful lessons for strengthening participatory governance and municipal service delivery in Fuvahmulah.

Nanjing – Research, Agriculture, Heritage and Economic Development

In Nanjing, we visited Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, highlighting the important role universities can play in research, innovation and capacity development. Similar partnerships could support Fuvahmulah in areas including climate resilience, environmental monitoring, digital transformation and smart city development.

The visit to Laomen East Historical and Cultural Block demonstrated how heritage conservation can be integrated with vibrant public spaces, tourism and local economic activity, providing useful lessons for preserving Fuvahmulah’s cultural identity while developing attractive spaces for residents and visitors.

At the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, we gained insights into agricultural research, technology and innovation, particularly their potential to strengthen productivity, food security and sustainable agriculture, which are all important for islands like Fuvahmulah. Visits to the Six Dynasties Museum and Jinqiao Market provided additional perspectives on heritage, tourism and local commerce.

Overall Reflections

The visit was a valuable learning and knowledge-sharing experience, demonstrating how local governments, educational institutions, research organizations and businesses contribute collectively to sustainable urban and regional development.

For Fuvahmulah, the knowledge gained across urban planning, vocational education, water and energy, wetland conservation, community governance, agriculture, heritage and economic development can help inform future policies and initiatives. The visit also highlighted opportunities for continued knowledge exchange and institutional and city-to-city cooperation with Jiangsu Province.

I express my sincere appreciation to H.E. Kong Xianhua, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Maldives, for the invitation and opportunity to participate in the delegation. I also extend my gratitude to the government officials and institutions in Suzhou, Yancheng and Nanjing for their warm hospitality, excellent arrangements and valuable engagements throughout the visit.