Maldives is open to "attractive" investments from China, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said today but denied there was any strategic tilt towards the Communist giant in the backdrop of India's concerns over increasing Chinese presence in the island nation.
"We are a very small country and a small economy and if we get a proposal that is beneficial for both sides then there is no reason why we should reject it because it will affect our economy...So, we are open to India, China, Japan and also to Russia.
"We have received certain project proposals from China which are attractive...But these are not overtures, China has no design on Maldives. And, we are also open to investments from India," Gayoom said.
The former Maldivian president was responding to questions about his country's growing proximity with China.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Duniya Maumoon had said in November last year that China's economic presence was felt in almost every corner of the world but it should not "worry" India, with whom its ties will not be "shaken" by Chinese investments.
On her visit here during which she held talks with her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj, Maumoon said India-Maldives ties have "sufficient depth" and that her country discusses with India almost all issues, including the political situation.
Gayoom, responding to questions after delivering an address on 'Islam: A Religion of Peace' at the Observer Research Foundation here, said India remains the "most strategically important" partner of Maldives.
"India was and remains the most strategically important partner of Maldives, whether it is our ties in education and army and navy training and the recent goodwill visit of ships to our country only prove that. And, we wish to continue our ties," he said.
Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya along with its support ships INS Mysore and INS Deepak recently were on a four-day visit to Maldives.
Gayoom also condemned acts of terrorism perpetrated globally in the name of Islam and said militant outfits like IS are "not fighting a holy war" or upholding the rights of Muslims with their mindless violence born out of religious ignorance.
"The nature of acts committed by IS only stem out of ignorance about Islam. Anyone who understands the basic tenets of this religion knows that it forbids violence and killing of any kind unless prescribed by law for crimes like murder," he said.
