Maldives signs MoU on Maritime Silk Route

The Maldives has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China on joining the Maritime Silk Route.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the ceremony took place today, after the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation being held in Beijing, China.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives by Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed.

The ministry said that the MoU enables Maldives to take an active role in the construction of the 21st century Maritime Silk Route, strengthen information sharing on national economic development plans, and facilitate more Chinese investment in the Maldives.

Discussions regarding Maldives joining the Maritime Silk Route took place during President Abdulla Yameen’s visit to China, and during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the Maldives in September this year.

The Maldivian delegation at the signing ceremony included Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Mohamed Shainee, Minister at the President’s Office Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Foreign Secretary Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, and Ambassador of Maldives to China Dr Mohamed Faisal.