Days before
Maldives president
Mohamed Muizzu departs for China, US secretary of state
Antony Blinken
spoke with Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer and discussed the importance of
defence cooperation
, economic growth, combating the climate crisis, and democratic governance. As first reported by TOI on Monday, Muizzu will travel to China next week, becoming the first democratically elected Maldives president to travel to China before visiting India.
In an official announcement, Male said on Thursday that Muizzu will visit China from January 7 to 12.
According to the state department,
Blinken
reaffirmed the US' commitment to strengthening cooperation with Maldives, a key partner in a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The Maldives said in its own readout discussions between Zameer and Blinken centred on a wide range of issues, including defence cooperation, economic development, climate change and adaptation, democratic governance, and the rule of law. Blinken, while reiterating the importance of the partnership, expressed the US commitment to continue working with the Maldives on shared priorities. "Minister Zameer conveyed the readiness of President Muizzu's government to work together in this endeavour. Zameer also expressed his gratitude to the US government for its continued support to the Maldives and for the importance it attaches to enhancing the partnership further," it said.
English (US) ·