Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, currently on a five-day state visit to China, has made a strategic appeal to Chinese authorities to increase tourist arrivals from China to the Maldives. This request comes as the Maldives experiences a wave of reservation cancellations from Indian tourists due to diplomatic tensions sparked by derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made by Maldivian officials.
Addressing the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province, President Muizzu underscored China’s critical role as the Maldives’ foremost ally and developmental collaborator. He commended the transformative impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014, highlighting its contribution to monumental infrastructure projects within the Maldives.
President Muizzu further emphasized the vital role of Chinese tourism, noting that China served as the Maldives’ primary tourism market before pandemic-related disruptions. He urged for concerted efforts to rejuvenate and strengthen the tourism relationship, positioning China once again as a pivotal contributor to the Maldives’ tourism sector, thereby fortifying bilateral economic ties between the two nations.