Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu, who returned on Saturday from a five-day visit to China, has given an important statement.
He said that his country may be small but it “does not mean that he has got a license to bully us.”
His statement has come at a time when diplomatic relations between India and Maldives are going through tension. Recently, three ministers of the Muizzu government had made objectionable comments on the social media of Maldives regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Muizzu went on an official visit to China for the first time after being elected President last November.
Speaking to the media after returning from China, he said, “We are a country of small islands in the sea, we have an Exclusive Economic Zone of 9 lakh square kilometers. Maldives is one of those countries which has a large area of this sea. Is part of.”
He said, “This sea does not belong to any particular country. This Indian Ocean belongs to all the countries that are settled here and around it.” It is believed that his comment was about India.
According to a report published in the Maldives Sun online portal, Muizzu said, “We are not a country kept in someone’s backyard, we are an independent and sovereign country.”
What happened during Muizzu’s visit to China?
During his visit to China, Muizzu met Chinese President Xi Jinping, after which both the countries signed about 20 agreements.
After Muizzu’s talks with top Chinese leaders, a joint statement was issued in which it was said that “both sides agreed that they will continue to support each other to safeguard each other’s interests.”
Without naming any country, the statement said, “China firmly supports the sovereignty, independence and national honor of the Maldives, supports and respects the Maldives moving forward on the development path in view of its national interests, and the Maldives. “Strongly opposes any kind of outside interference in the internal affairs of the United States.”
China’s Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin has said that by joining President Xi Jinping’s initiative, Maldives will get more economic help from China for more development projects.
Wang Lixin accompanied Muizzu during his visit to China. He said that there are three main factors for the strong relations between China and Maldives.
He said, “First, mutual political trust which is of utmost importance; second, strengthening the convergence of President Xi’s initiative and President Muizzu’s development strategy to consider more projects for the people of Maldives; and third, comprehensive consultation Adhering to the principle of joint construction and common interests.”
Agreements signed between China and Maldives
In a press conference held in Male, Muizzu told that China has agreed to provide financial assistance of 130 million us dollars to maldives He said that a major part of this help will be used for the reconstruction of roads in the capital. 130 million us dollars to maldives
During this visit, an agreement was also reached between the two countries on the launch of domestic flights from China by Maldivian, the national airline of Maldives.
The two countries have also signed an agreement to develop an integrated tourism zone in Hulhumale, for which China will provide assistance of US $ 50 million.
Apart from this, China will also give grant for a 100 bed hospital in Vilimale.
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), built with Indian help in Male, is considered the largest in the country. This 300-bed hospital was built in 1992 with the help of India. Later in 2018, once again with the help of India, modern services were expanded in this hospital.
The tour took place amid controversies
Muizzu’s visit to China took place at a time when relations between the two were tense. Three ministers were suspended in Maldives for their derogatory remarks against PM Modi.
On the other hand, in a recently released report of the European Union’s Election Observation Mission of Maldives, it was said that the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) have an anti-India stance and have planned to hold the 2023 presidential elections. Tried to spread misleading information during.
In this election, Muizzu had contested as a PPM candidate. At that time the party was led by former President Abdullah Yameen, who is seen as pro-China. Abdullah Yameen is currently serving a jail sentence on corruption charges.
Recently, Maldives Government Minister Mariam Shiuna and other leaders had made objectionable comments on PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. There was a lot of anger in India regarding this.
Maldives’ Mohammed Muizzoo government started trying to compensate for the loss. First he issued a statement distancing himself from the comment and then suspended the three ministers who made the comment.
There was a strong reaction to this in India. People canceled their trips to Maldives and started posting pictures of canceled tickets on social media.
Many celebrities also entered this controversy and wrote about Lakshadweep. He wrote that if there is a place like Lakshadweep to visit in India, then there is no need to visit Maldives.
Shock to Muizzu government
Elections for the post of Mayor were held in Male city on Saturday. Before becoming the President, Muizzu used to be the Mayor of Male, this post was lying vacant after his election as the President.
Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Aadam Azeem has got a big victory in these elections.
According to Maldives Sun online portal, in the counting of 41 ballot boxes, Aadam Azeem has got 5,303 votes while the People’s National Congress candidate has got 3,301 votes.
The leadership of MDP is in the hands of Mohammad Ibrahim Solih who is considered pro-India. His party lost to Muizzu’s People’s National Congress in the presidential elections.