Maldives President Seeks Increased Chinese Tourist Influx Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has called on China to “intensify” efforts to increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting the island nation. Speaking at the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian province, Muizzu referred to China as the Maldives’ “closest” ally and praised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While acknowledging China as a significant ally and development partner, Muizzu urged the Chinese government to enhance the flow of tourists from China to the Maldives. He emphasized that China was the top market for Maldives before the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed a desire to regain that position through collaborative efforts.

Maldives Urges China to Boost Tourism and Investments, Despite Diplomatic Strain

The two countries also signed a USD 50 million project aimed at developing an integrated tourism zone in the Maldives. Despite recent diplomatic tensions arising from derogatory remarks by Maldivian ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Muizzu highlighted the importance of economic ties and sought further investments from Chinese companies.

In his address, President Muizzu emphasized his administration’s commitment to diversifying the Maldives’ economic base and ensuring economic security. He highlighted the swift implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with China in 2014, describing it as a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two nations. The FTA aims to boost bilateral trade and investments, with a specific focus on increasing Maldives’ exports of fish products to China.

President Muizzu also presented investment opportunities for Chinese companies, showcasing 11 projects at the Maldives Investment Forum. These projects include the relocation of the Male Commercial Port to Thilafushi, the Velana International Airport development project, and the construction of 15 additional airports. Despite the recent diplomatic strain, the Maldives seeks to strengthen economic cooperation and collaboration with China.

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