Give enabling environment, stick to FTA: China tells Maldives


By Gaurav Sharma

Beijing, Sep 25 (IANS): A wary China on Tuesday hoped the Maldives' new government will provide an "enabling environment" to the Chinese companies and stick to the controversial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Beijing signed with the now ousted President Abdulla Yameen.

China congratulated the Maldives for holding successful elections in which Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) defeated incumbent Yameen, perceived to be close to Beijing.

The MDP was critical of increased Chinese investment and the FTA which was rushed through the country's Parliament without debate last year.

"China congratulates the Maldives on its successful Presidential election and as well as Solih's victory. We respect Maldives people's choice and we hope the country can maintain stability and development," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said

"As to the FTA, signed between Chin and the Maldives, we believe we have always encouraged the Chinese to invest and operate in accordance with the market-based rules and the regulations.

"And we hope the Maldives will maintain consistency and stability of their policy and create an enabling environment and atmosphere for the Chinese operation there," Geng added.

"China and Maldives signed an FTA and it came into force from August 1. China will work with the Maldives to ensure the sound implementation of FTA and expand trade and investment cooperation between both the sides for the greater benefit and development of people of both the nations," Geng said.

Geng was responding to a question on whether China was worried over the election of the new government which might renegotiate deals signed by Yameen's government.

The Maldives sits on one the world's busiest shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean where both India and China vie for influence.

The Maldives has always been a traditional ally of India. But under Yameen's presidency, the country moved closer to China, worrying New Delhi.

China, which didn't even have an embassy in Male until 2011, has stepped up its engagement in the country by building bridges, airport and high-end housing complexes.

Yameen also approved China's Belt and Road project, which India does not support.

Maldives former President Mohammad Nasheed, a fierce critic of China and Yameen and living in exile, has already said the victory of the opposition party means resetting ties with India.

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: Give enabling environment, stick to FTA: China tells Maldives



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.