Maldives President Muizzu discusses measures to increase Chinese tourist numbers with Premier Li

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and discussed ways to increase the number of tourists from China to his tourism-dependent country, besides the implementation of a host of new projects that Beijing has committed to undertake during his ongoing visit.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on January 11 met Chinese Premier Li Qiang and discussed ways to increase the number of tourists from China to his tourism-dependent country, besides the implementation of a host of new projects that Beijing has committed to undertake during his ongoing visit.

After his high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday after which the two countries signed 20 agreements, Mr. Muizzu on the penultimate day of his five-day visit met Mr. Li and deliberated on increasing cooperation in e-commerce, the capital Male development plan, airport expansion and other development projects.

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They also discussed increasing direct flights and further cooperation in tourism, a readout posted on the website of the Maldives President's office said.

With Mr. Muizzu, regarded as a pro-China leader, now entangled in a diplomatic row with India after three of his Ministers posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he has been pressing Beijing to intensify efforts to increase Chinese tourist numbers to his country amid reports of spate cancellation of reservations by Indian tourists in protest against the Maldives Ministers derogatory comments.

Though Mr. Muizzu has suspended three Deputy Ministers who posted derogatory comments, this has already resulted in backlash from Indian tourists who flocked in far larger numbers to the Maldives.

China figured third after Russia in terms of number of tourists to the Indian Ocean island nation in 2023.