Maldives top diplomat discusses projects with China companies

Three Maldivian ministers including its top diplomat Moosa Zameer are meeting with officials from companies in China to discuss ongoing and proposed projects.

Zameer, who began his four-day visit to China with finance minister Dr Mohamed Shafeeq and infrastructure minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib, said in a series of posts on X that they have met China Tianying Inc, China Machinery  Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). 

With China Tianying, they discussed the progress in waste management and urban services projects, paving the way for sustainable development in the Maldives.

"We also discussed further collaborations and potential investments in the renewable energy sector," a post read.

With CMEC, they discussed on progressing their collaboration on the Rasmale’ and Gulhi Falhu projects. 

With CSCEC, they had "productive discussions" on future collaboration in key developmental projects.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who took the oath of office in November, is yet to make a state visit to India, but made his first state visit to China in January.

Since the arrival of Muizzu's government, relations between Maldives and India have been tense.

Critical of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s promotional video of Lakshadweep, three Maldivian deputy ministers criticised India and Modi on social media, following which there was a lot of back and forth taunts flung between the two nations.

As a result Indian tourist arrivals have now fallen by nearly half, some high profile Indians and tour agencies having initiated a boycott of Maldives.