Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has spoken extremely of his nation’s strategic ties with China, saying the 2 international locations respect one another and Beijing totally helps the Indian Ocean island’s sovereignty.

Muizzu’s feedback got here amid unease within the Maldives’ bilateral ties with India after he took workplace in November final yr.

Muizzu, who returned to the Maldives on Saturday after a high-profile state go to to China, famous that China has offered help to the event of the Maldives since establishing diplomatic relations in 1972.

During his just-concluded go to to China, Muizzu, considered a pro-China chief, sought to align Maldives nearer to Beijing and each international locations elevated their ties to a strategic partnership.

He additionally stated China’s Belt and Road Initiative has taken bilateral relations to a new stage.

China just isn’t a rustic that may intrude with the interior affairs of the Maldives, which is why the 2 international locations have a robust relationship, Muizzu was quoted as saying in an interview with China’s state-run CGTN channel.

He added that the Maldives and China respect one another, and China totally helps Maldives’ sovereignty.

The President expressed his perception that the China-Maldives relations will proceed to develop stronger sooner or later, the official PSM News quoted him as saying within the interview.

He additionally stated his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping places the curiosity of residents first and that China’s financial system has reached new heights underneath his management.

He added President Xi has assured him that the Chinese authorities will assist the Maldives obtain its targets.

President Muizzu stated his imaginative and prescient includes strengthening the financial system of the Maldives and bringing progress in accordance with the expectations of the folks.

He additionally stated he desires to remodel the Maldives into a rustic that works in concord with different developed international locations inside the framework of his imaginative and prescient.

His remarks got here amid a row between the Maldives and India over derogatory feedback posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu authorities in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi main to a diplomatic row with India.

Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and requires a boycott by Indian vacationers who ranked highest in numbers adopted by Russia. Chinese vacationers figured third.

Muizzu has additionally requested India to withdraw its army personnel from his nation by March 15.

According to the most recent authorities figures, there are 88 Indian army personnel stationed within the Maldives to assist function a Dornier plane and two helicopters offered by India.

Speaking to the press on Saturday after getting back from China, President Muizzu not directly attacked India.

Without naming any nation, he stated, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us.”

He also announced plans to reduce the country’s dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries.

“We aren’t in anyone’s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state,” he said, addressing the reporters gathered at the Velana International Airport.

He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size.

He vowed that he would not allow any external influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives.

Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government here.