New Delhi: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in China on his first state visit on Monday, a day after he fired three ministers for making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi resulting in a major diplomatic row with India.
Indians, notably, constitute the largest number of tourists in the tourism-dependent Maldives.
Muizzu, who is regarded as “pro-China”, during his maiden visit praised Beijing as a "valued ally and integral collaborator" of the Indian Ocean island nation and hailed the cooperation between the two countries, reported PTI.
On the first day of his five-day visit, the Maldivian President met provincial officials in Fujian.
Though China is yet to release his official itinerary, the foreign ministry had earlier said that he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements.
During his meeting with senior officials of the China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), which has undertaken projects in the Maldives, Muizzu "underscored the significance of China as a valued ally and an integral collaborator in the developmental journey of the Maldives", a press release issued by his office in Male said, reported PTI.
Later he met Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, Fujian Provincial Party unit. At the meeting, Muizzu said the Maldives valued the China-Maldives relationship and expressed his hopes to increase cooperation in multiple areas.
However, his first visit to China has been marred by a huge diplomatic row triggered by the derogatory remarks against PM Modi by some Maldivian ministers after the Indian leader posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his visit to Lakshadweep.
The Maldivian envoy to India was on Monday summoned to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks.
The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Modi government.
Muizzu is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi and sign several agreements to bolster the bilateral ties, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, reported PTI.
Earlier on January 5, Wang told the media, "The relations between China and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height."
During President Muizzu's visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation, the Maldivian President's Office said in a press release.
Muizzu will also attend the Invest Maldives Forum in the southeastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, China, and meet with senior Chinese business leaders to explore avenues for strengthening socioeconomic relations between the Maldives and China, it said, according to PTI.