The economic ties between China and the Maldives will continue ‘smoothly’, experts and the public have reportedly told Chinese newspaper, The Global Times.

In an article published Monday, Global Times writers say that they spoke to an official of the government who claims president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is ‘moderate’ in his diplomatic policy.

“Solih will not refuse trade or investment from China”, the official says.

The article also has associate professor Long Xingchun, of the West Normal University in China, attesting that the close relations between China and Maldives have been mutually beneficial.

This contradicts the claims by other analysts that say the relations could see Maldives caught in a Chinese ‘debt trap’, as was the case with Sri Lanka.

President Abdulla Yameen’s accumulation of credit to China has aggravated these claims. A total of 126 million of the 210 million spent on the Sinamalé Bridge, connecting the congested capital of Maldives to its airport, was invested for by China.