Maldives pres departs to China on first state visit

President Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed departed to China on their first state visit on Sunday.

This visit is being made following an invitation from the President of China Xi Jinping.

During President Muizzu's first state visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation. This visit will also pave the way for collaborations in technology and other areas between the two countries, the President's Office said.

The president will also attend the Invest Maldives Forum in Fuzhou, China and meet with senior Chinese business leaders to explore avenues for strengthening socioeconomic relations between the Maldives and China.

A high-level delegation will accompany the President and the First Lady on the visit, which will conclude on Saturday.

Traditionally Maldivian presidents had visited India on their first official or state visit, but President Muizzu broke tradition when he visited Türkiye in late November on his first official visit. 

He is yet to visit India, but met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28 climate summit in Dubai in early December. 

President Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove a small Indian military presence of some 77 personnel.

The new government, which came to power on November 17, has formally requested India to remove its troops, with President Muizzu saying that India has agreed to withdraw the troops. 

Maldives has also given notice to India to not renew a hydrography agreement signed by the previous government, giving access to India to study and chart the island nation's seabed.

The agreement will terminate when it expires on June 4, 2024, the government has said.

Meanwhile, authorities in Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers who have come under fire for their posts on X in which they are seen verbally abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.