China has committed to safeguarding the "sovereignty" of the Maldives and enhancing diplomatic ties following the signing of crucial infrastructure agreements, as announced by both parties. In the midst of geopolitical competition between Beijing and Delhi for influence, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, elected in September, expressed his intent to nurture "strong ties" with China while removing Indian troops.

During Muizzu's inaugural state visit to China, the country that serves as the Maldives' primary external creditor, he engaged with President Xi Jinping. This meeting resulted in the "elevation of bilateral ties," according to Beijing's state media. President Xi emphasized that, given the prevailing circumstances, China-Maldives relations present a historic opportunity to build upon past accomplishments and move forward. He assured that China respects and supports the Maldives in charting a development path tailored to its national conditions. Beijing firmly supports the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national dignity.

President Muizzu expressed gratitude to President Xi for China's substantial contribution to the Maldives' economic success and its role in the country's infrastructure development. Notably, Muizzu's political party benefited from funding through China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a key component of President Xi's strategy to extend China's global influence. The Maldives, under Muizzu's predecessor Abdulla Yameen, heavily borrowed from Beijing for construction projects and distanced itself from India. As of 2021, the Maldives owed 42 percent of its total external debts exceeding $3 billion to Beijing, with 11 percent of that debt owed to China's Exim Bank, a significant Belt and Road creditor, according to the World Bank and the Maldives' finance ministry.

China has committed to safeguarding the "sovereignty" of the Maldives and enhancing diplomatic ties following the signing of crucial infrastructure agreements, as announced by both parties. In the midst of geopolitical competition between Beijing and Delhi for influence, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, elected in September, expressed his intent to nurture "strong ties" with China while removing Indian troops.

During Muizzu's inaugural state visit to China, the country that serves as the Maldives' primary external creditor, he engaged with President Xi Jinping. This meeting resulted in the "elevation of bilateral ties," according to Beijing's state media. President Xi emphasized that, given the prevailing circumstances, China-Maldives relations present a historic opportunity to build upon past accomplishments and move forward. He assured that China respects and supports the Maldives in charting a development path tailored to its national conditions. Beijing firmly supports the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national dignity.

President Muizzu expressed gratitude to President Xi for China's substantial contribution to the Maldives' economic success and its role in the country's infrastructure development. Notably, Muizzu's political party benefited from funding through China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a key component of President Xi's strategy to extend China's global influence. The Maldives, under Muizzu's predecessor Abdulla Yameen, heavily borrowed from Beijing for construction projects and distanced itself from India. As of 2021, the Maldives owed 42 percent of its total external debts exceeding $3 billion to Beijing, with 11 percent of that debt owed to China's Exim Bank, a significant Belt and Road creditor, according to the World Bank and the Maldives' finance ministry.