The Maldives has said that its new government headed by President Mohamed Muizzu remains committed to “fortifying” the country’s longstanding ties with China.
“We are dedicated to fortifying the long-standing relations between China and the Maldives, built upon the foundation of mutual respect and shared goals,” Maldivian Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef told the second edition of ‘China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation' in Kunming (Yunnan province) on Friday.
Latheef highlighted in his keynote address that the Muizzu administration was keen to explore “novel avenues of collaboration and cooperation with China” and foster a dynamic partnership for the mutual benefit of the two nations.
He described Beijing as a “crucial” partner in Maldives’ development.
Latheef stressed that both the countries shared a commitment to a “people-centric strategy” aimed at promoting “social development, peace, and prosperity”.
This is the first time that Maldives has attended the China-led initiative aimed at bolstering cooperation between Beijing and the Indian Ocean nations. In 2022, the previous government headed by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had given the inaugural conference a miss.
Organized by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the foreign aid agency of Beijing, the conference is expected to be attended by over 20 nations from Africa and Asia which lie on the Indian Ocean coast.
It is viewed as a rival to the New Delhi-backed Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), a key regional mechanism formed in 1997 and comprising 23 nations. China is an observer in the IORA.
Maldives Skips Colombo Security Conclave Meeting
Significantly, the Maldives government chose to skip the National Security Advisor (NSA)-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) held in Port Louis on Thursday.
A statement from the Indian High Commission in Mauritius said that Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as observers in the CSC meeting.
Indian NSA Ajit Doval underscored the critical role of CSC in “ensuring regional security and stability” at the meeting, according to an official statement.
He also highlighted the significance of continued engagements under the five “pillars of cooperation” of CSC—maritime safety and security, countering terrorism and radicalisation, combating trafficking and transnational organised crime, cyber security, protection of critical infrastructure and technology and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).