Xi invites Maldives to join China's Maritime Silk Road

Expanding its mega Maritime Silk Road plans in the Indian Ocean, Chinese President Xi Jinping today invited Maldives to join his pet project for which he has already invited both India and Sri Lanka.
China welcomes the Maldives to participate in the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), Xi said during a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Yameen in Nanjing.
Yameen said Maldives will respond to China's initiative soon and thanked Beijing for its understanding and support to small island countries, especially in the domains of environment and ecology.
He is visiting Nanjing as a guest to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games beginning today.

Noting that the Maldives is part of the ancient maritime Silk Road, Xi called on the two sides to enhance maritime cooperation.
China says Maldives is connected with its ancient maritime Silk Route through the Ihavandhippolhu (iHavan) Integrated Development Project, the northernmost atoll of the island nation.

The design of the project seeks to capitalise on the location of the atoll, which lies on the seven degree channel through which the main East-West shipping routes connecting South-East Asia and China to the Middle East and Europe , state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The port in Ihavandhippolhu stands ready to benefit from the growing trade volumes passing through the region in the wake of strong economic growth in China and India, it said.

Xi said China views the Maldives as an important partner in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and is ready to work with the atoll nation to cement traditional friendship and expand cooperation in tourism, trade and infrastructure.
China has already invited India and Sri Lanka for building a maze of Silk roads through Central and South Asia besides the Maritime Silk Road through Pacific and Indian Ocean.
While India has confirmed its participation in the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM), one of the Silk road plans; it sought more clarifications about the Maritime Silk Road, which aims to link different ports in the region.

China is due to release its final documents on all the Silk Road plans in about two months, officials said.
Extending massive aid and financial package for infrastructure development, China has emerged as a major player in both Sri Lanka and Maldives in India's backyard.
Ahead of his visit to China, Yameen said a third of the 1. 125 million visitors to the Maldives last year were Chinese.
"I am confident that with improved air transport connectivity and further marketing efforts in Chinese cities, the Maldives will continue to be a favoured destination among Chinese holidaymakers, " he said.