Team News Riveting
Beijing, January 9
After developing a bitter relation with India, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu is eyeing at Beijing for bilateral ties but has to face humiliation at the onset.
China President Xi Jinping has yet not given time to Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a week-long visit to Beijing that started Monday. This was the first visit of Maldivian President who assumed power in November.
In the normal protocol, the scheduled and appointment of any head of the state are finalised well in advance. But Muizzu has to face disgrace as he is yet to get the appointment from Xi’s office. According to reports, Muizzu is meeting only provincial leaders of Chinese province since yesterday.
At an “Invest Maldives” forum in a southern Chinese port city, Muizzu discussed with the local officials to deepen bilateral ties as the archipelagic nation pirouettes away from India. During his week-long visit, pacts from infrastructure to tourism are expected to be signed.
In Fuzhou, the Chinese city designated as the start of China’s maritime “Silk Road”, Muizzu said China remained one of his country’s “closest allies and developmental partners”, according to a statement released by his office.
Muizzu became president of the Indian Ocean nation in November after winning on his “India Out” campaign platform under which he called New Delhi’s huge influence a threat to sovereignty. His government has since asked dozens of locally based Indian military personnel to leave. And in an apparent snub to India, Muizzu is in China this week, before any visit to his country’s giant neighbour.
Following the development flared up in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakshadweep visit and subsequently “derogatory” comments passed by Maldivian Ministers, India has taken strong worded exception with the authorities.
Muizzu is now looking for India dates. Maldivian officials said the nation is looking forward to engaging with India to extend existing cooperation on all matters.
