Beijing, Jan 10: Amid an ongoing controversy with India, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, on Wednesday, held in-depth talks following which the two countries signed 20 “key” agreements, including one on tourism cooperation, and announced the elevation of their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Muizzu said he was honoured to pay his first state visit to China and become the first foreign head of state that China has hosted this year, fully demonstrating the great importance both sides attach to the development of bilateral relations.
Xi stressed that China respects and supports the Maldives in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. China also supports the Maldives firmly in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Xi and Muizzu announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, it said.
Muizzu’s visit to China is also taking place amid the row with India leading to a spate of cancellations of reservations by Indian tourists, who constitute the largest number of visitors to the tourism-dependent island nation.
Facing backlash from Indian tourists, Muizzu appealed to China to “intensify” efforts to send more tourists to his country.
“China was our (Maldives’) number one market (for tourism) pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position,” he said.
Besides talks with Xi, Muizzu is also due to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials in the next two days.
His appeal for more Chinese tourists came amid a diplomatic row with India.
Muizzu’s government suspended three deputy ministers for their derogatory posts on social media.
Also, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) strongly condemned the derogatory comments.
According to data released by the Maldives Tourism Ministry earlier, India remained the largest tourist market for the country in 2023 with Russia in second place followed by China in the third.
The highest number of visitors to the Maldives were from India, with 209,198 arrivals, followed by Russia in second place with 209,146 arrivals, and China in third place with 187,118 arrivals.
China-Maldives bilateral trade in 2022 totalled to USD 451.29 million of which China’s exports constituted USD 451.29 million against USD 60,000 of exports from Maldives.
Muizzu also sought investments from Chinese companies for 11 projects at the Maldives Investment Forum. (PTI)
