From December 1 to 4, a Maldivian youth student delegation visited Suzhou under the leadership of Ali Waheed Hassan Manik, the Vice Chairman of China-Maldives Cultural Exchange Association. During the four-day visit, 13 Maldivian students visited the Silk Museum, the Embroidery Research Institute, Suzhou Museum, the Humble Administrator's Garden, Pingjiang Road, Eslite Bookstore, and Suzhou Center, etc. While savoring the traditional Suzhou culture represented by silk, embroidery and classical gardens, they also experienced the fruits of Suzhou's modernization. During the visit, Maldivian students also visited the Wu Culture Garden, experienced VR technology at Suzhou Vocational Univeristy and completed paper-cutting works with the university students.

Suzhou city has entered the fourth year of the twin-town establishment with Malé city, capital of Maldives, in July 2016. The visit of Maldivian youth delegation to Suzhou not only deepened the exchanges between Chinese and Maldivian youths, but also made the Maldivian friends understand the achievements of China's reform and opening up and spread  Chinese traditional culture.