Next week will be the first visit to China for recently elected Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu, following a falling out with his mentor Abdullah Yameen, who had led Male close to Beijing. Speculation on the probable course of his government's foreign policy over the next five years is expected to be sparked by this visit. First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and Muizzu will visit China from January 8 to 12, at President Xi Jinping's invitation, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying announced on Friday.
Muizzu, a politician widely recognized for his support of China, unseated India-friendly President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to become the eighth president of the Maldives on September 8.
Remarkably, Turkiye was Muizzu's first overseas destination after winning the election. Then, on December 1, while attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, he had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which they discussed the growth of their close bilateral relationship. During the discussion, the two leaders agreed to establish a core group to discuss the complex relationships and fortify ties. The conference was called in response to Muizzu's demand that New Delhi extract 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and his resolution to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries.Remarkably, Turkiye was Muizzu's first overseas destination after winning the election. He then met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United Arab Emirates on December 1.
The conference was called in response to Muizzu's demand that New Delhi extract 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and his resolution to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries. An earlier announcement had been made by the Muizzu government that it would be terminating a hydrographic survey arrangement with India.
