China respects the sovereignty of Maldives, Muizzu said – relations will reach new heights

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu praised his country’s strategic ties with China, saying the two countries respect each other and that Beijing fully supports the Indian Ocean island’s sovereignty. Muizzoo’s comments come amid discomfort in Maldives’ bilateral relations with India after he assumed office in November last year. Muizzoo, who returned to the Maldives on Saturday after a high-profile state visit to China, said China has provided assistance in the development of the Maldives since establishing diplomatic ties in 1972.

Muizzoo, considered a pro-China leader, tried to bring the Maldives closer to Beijing during his recently concluded visit to China and the two countries elevated their ties to a strategic partnership. He also said that China’s Belt and Road Initiative has taken bilateral relations to a new level. China is not a country that will interfere in the internal affairs of the Maldives, which is why the two countries have strong relations, Muizzu was quoted as saying in an interview with China’s state-owned CGTN channel.

He said that Maldives and China respect each other and China fully supports the sovereignty of Maldives. The President expressed confidence that China-Maldives relations will continue to strengthen in the future, the official PSM News quoted him as saying in the interview. He also said that his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping puts the interests of citizens first and under his leadership China’s economy has reached new heights. He said President Xi has assured him that the Chinese government will help Maldives achieve its goals.