Foreign minister extols China-Maldives partnership
The praise was at odds with Speaker Nasheed’s criticism of Chinese debt.
22 Jul 2019, 9:00 AM
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on Sunday praised China-Maldives ties and backed the “mutually beneficial” partnership to grow under the present administration.
In an interview with Chinese state-run media Xinhua, Shahid called the relationship “an example of how one of the smallest members of the international community can have a mutually productive and progressive relationship with one of its biggest and most powerful members.”
The government hopes China will remain “an important economic and bilateral development partner for the Maldives, in its journey to become one of the most vibrant middle-income developing countries,” he added, expressing personal commitment to “ensuring that our already strong relations are further enhanced with more vigor and passion in the years to come.”
Shahid said the Maldivian people were “deeply appreciative” of key developmental projects financed by China such as the expansion of the international airport and the construction of a bridge to connect the capital with the airport island.
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