Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in Beijing on Monday on a five-day state visit during which he is due to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and sign several agreements.
Muizzu is accompanied by his wife Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation. The President and the First Lady were greeted by senior Chinese officials upon their arrival.
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.
“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,” Wang said on Friday.
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. The visit will also pave the way for collaborations in technology and other areas between the two countries, it said.
The trip comes against the backdrop of a diplomatic row with India. President Muizzu, who gained power riding his ‘Out India’ campaign, suspended three deputy ministers—Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid— following derogatory comments posted on X in response to PM Modi’s promotion of India’s Lakshadweep archipelago for tourism.
“The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives,” said the Maldives Foreign Ministry in response to the controversial social media posts.
