Male’ city Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has lauded the Maldives-China relations that flourished during former president Abdulla Yameen’s government.
Muizzu on Wednesday met with a high-level delegation from China’s Pingtan city and assured to “work closely with China.”
“Briefing the Chinese delegation on the scope and vision of the Male' city council, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that they hoped to learn from the experiences and recieve strong support in key areas of urban services such as waste management,” the city council said in a statement.
Secretary of the CPC Working Committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone Jun Lai said the Maldives’ visit was a success and that they were committed to work closely with the Male' city council.
Muizzu meets with high-level delegation from China's Pingtan city.
“Looking forward to future engagements and the identification of areas of strong cooperation, Secretary Jun Lai noted that his delegation was focusing on important areas of urban growth such as housing, tourism, culture and sports,” it stated.
The Chinese delegation noted the high degree of trust between China and the Male' city council, the statement added.
The current government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has an India-First foreign policy. However, the capital city, controlled by the opposition, is committed to working closely with China.
China donated more than 3,000 LED streetlights to the city council last year, which have been installed in the capital's main streets.
Senior opposition member and former diplomat Mohamed Hussein Shareef also attended Wednesday’s meeting. He is a consultant for the Male’ city council.
During Yameen’s administration from 2013 to 2018, Maldives drastically moved away from India and formed a close connection with China.
Xi Jinping and Abdulla Yameen.
Chinese president Xi Jinping made a historic state visit to the country in 2014 and the biggest infrastructure project in the country’s history to link the capital Male’ and Hulhumale’ via bridge was awarded to a Chinese company.
The bridge was named Sina-Male’ bridge or the China-Maldives friendship bridge. Maldives-China relations were a major blow to India which believed China was trying to influence its backyard.
In 2015, Yameen paid a state visit to Pakistan, India’s long-standing arch-rival.
However, Yameen was defeated in the 2018 presidential election and the new Solih administration changed course by announcing an India First policy.
The country’s second bridge linking Male’ to Thilafushi or Thila-Male’ bridge was awarded to India’s Afcons Infrastructure company by the current government.
