Maldives President Abdulla Yameen said Wednesday that he is planning a visit to China within the next few months to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.
Yameen who is currently on a three day visit to Sri Lanka told reporters that his next official state visits will be to China and Japan. They are likely to take place in February or March.
Responding to questions, Yameen said that the international community including China and India have responded positively to his appointment as president and he looks forward to strengthening relations with countries on an"equal footing." "In the next month or two, there is an upcoming trip to Japan and hopefully very soon a visit to China as well and also to some of the Arab countries. But presently to Japan, China, very shortly, "he said.
Tourist arrivals from China to the sun dappled shores of Maldives have boomed in recent years accounting for about a quarter of the total 1 million travelers that annually come to the Indian Ocean group of islands.
Yameen added that as many as 10 Chinese companies have expressed interest in constructing a bridge connecting the Maldives main international airport to the capital city Male. In total, 19 companies have sent application to date.
China has also expressed interest in increasing investment in infrastructure and other sectors as well.
Yameen noted that his government would not at present consider an agreement that could enable the U.S. to set up a military base in the country.
In early 2013, the U.S reportedly began talks with the previous Maldives government to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that would include troop presence and the potential establishment of a U.S. military base, local media reported.
The possibility created much controversy before being put on the backburner by subsequent elections that saw Yameen come into power in November 2013.
Security and other matters regarding the Indian Ocean will be negotiated with India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Yameen added.
Recalling his recent visit to India, Yameen noted that Maldives now has "exceptional"relations with that country and said he would work to make them even better. "Putting the country on a more economically sound footing is my main focus and I believe that all the Maldivian people are behind me on this,"he said, acknowledging that recent presidential elections polarized sections of the population. "I have no intention of going after the opposition politicians like the previous government and they also seem quite content,"he added.
