Upon returning home from a high-profile five-day state visit to China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu asserted on Saturday that despite the country's size, it does not grant others the authority to bully it. His remarks were made in the backdrop of a diplomatic dispute with India, involving derogatory social media posts by three of his ministers targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Muizzu, recognized as a pro-China leader, refrained from explicitly naming any country as he emphasized, "We may be small but this doesn't give them the license to bully us." Speaking to the media upon his return from China, Muizzu highlighted the vast exclusive economic zone of 900,000 square km that Maldives possesses, stating that the country has one of the largest shares of the ocean.
He continued, "This ocean does not belong to a specific country. This (Indian) Ocean also belongs to all countries situated in it," in what seemed to be a subtle dig at India. Emphasizing Maldives' independence, Muizzu reiterated, "We aren't in anyone's backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state," as reported by the Maldives Sun Online portal.
During his state visit to China, Muizzu engaged in discussions with President Xi Jinping, resulting in the signing of 20 agreements. A joint statement issued at the end of the talks affirmed mutual support in safeguarding core interests without explicitly referencing any country. The statement further expressed China's backing for Maldives' sovereignty and independence.
In a media briefing in Male, Muizzu disclosed that China had provided a generous USD 130 million in assistance to Maldives. The majority of this aid is earmarked for the redevelopment of roads in Male, where mayoral elections were concurrently taking place.
The former Mayor of the capital city, Muizzu, who assumed the Presidency in November the previous year, emphasized the significance of the grant, stating, “That is approximately USD 130 million in grants. This will be spent on developmental projects. The biggest spending will be on the development of the roads of Male.”
China's Ambassador to Maldives, Wang Lixin, who accompanied Muizzu during his China visit, outlined three key factors contributing to the robust relations between the two nations. These factors include mutual political trust, alignment with President Xi's initiatives, and adherence to the principles of extensive consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits.
Wang asserted that Maldives would receive further support for development projects from Beijing aligning with President Xi's initiatives. She highlighted the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership during the visit, providing a strong political foundation for future cooperation.
Despite the diplomatic tensions with India and the shadow cast by a critical EU Election Observation Mission report, Muizzu's visit to China resulted in agreements worth USD 50 million for an integrated tourism zone and 30,000 social housing units. Additionally, China pledged grant assistance for a 100-bed tertiary hospital in Vilimale', reinforcing the evolving dynamics of Maldives-China relations.
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