Beijing, Jan 9 (Language) Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu on Tuesday appealed to China to “accelerate” efforts to send more tourists to his country amid the cancellation of reservations by Indians.Tourists after a diplomatic row broke out over derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by his ministers

On Tuesday, the second day of his five-day state visit to China, Muizzu described China as the island nation’s “closest” ally in his address to the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian province.

China is one of our closest allies and has stood by us as development partners,” he said.

He praised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014, calling them “the most significant infrastructure projects the Maldives has seen.” Provide us with projects in “History”, according to his speech.

He urged China to increase its tourist flow and interest in Maldives.

According to a readout posted on their official website, China was our (Maldives’) number one good market, requesting that we step up efforts to help China regain this position.

And simultaneously, Maldivian media reported that the two countries have signed a USD 50 million project to develop an integrated tourism zone in the Indian Ocean island.

Muizzu’s appeal for more Chinese tourists comes amid a diplomatic row after some Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Modi after he posted a video of him on a pristi Posted on: Beach during their recent trip to Lakshadweep.

Three deputy ministers have been suspended by Muizzu’s government for derogatory posts on social media.

Strongly condemned by the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry for the derogatory comments.

According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry in previously released data, India remains the largest tourist market for the country in 2023.

India contributed the highest number of tourists to Maldives with 209,198 arrivals, followed by Russia at second place with 209,146 arrivals and China at third place with 187,118 arrivals.

In 2022, India is set to top the Maldives tourism market with 240,000 arrivals. Russia also remained in second place with 198,000 tourists and Britain remained in third place with more than 177,000 tourists.

Before the onset of Covid, China was at the highest position with over 2.80 lakh tourists, but is currently struggling to revive its domestic and foreign tourism due to almost four years of lockdown policy and continued slow pace. Its economy is going through a recession.

As a result, Chinese tourists, who were the first to travel abroad for holidays in their millions before Covid, have now found themselves restricted in view of the economic slowdown.

He also said his administration has been committed to prompt implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) signed with China, calling it a symbol of the close commercial ties between the two countries.

The FTA was signed by Maldives and China in December 2014 during the administration of pro-China President Abdulla Yameen. That, however, was not implemented by the administration of his successor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, according to Maldivian media reports.

He also said that FTA is a symbol of good and deep commercial relations between the two countries.

He said that the objective of the FTA is to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially to increase our exports of fish products to China and this has been a major priority for us through the FTA.

China-Maldives bilateral trade during 2022 totaled US$ 451.29 million, of which China’s exports stood at US$ 451.29 million as against exports from Maldives at US$ 60,000.

Muizzu has also sought investment from Chinese companies for 11 projects from the Maldives Investment Forum.

The projects also include the relocation of the Male Commercial Port to Thilafushi, the project for the development of Velana International Airport, as well as the construction of 15 more airports and the expansion of the SEZ, Maldives web portal edition.mv reported.