Maldives-China FTA is not "dead": MP Saeed

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Maldives and China during 2017 is “not dead”, claimed MP for Maavah constituency and former Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed.

While the MP was the one to sign the FTA with then-counterpart, Saeed made this assertion following the outrage sparked after an interview given to an Indian news outlet during an official visit by Speaker of Parliament and Former President Mohamed Nasheed, who claimed that “the FTA is dead”.

Taking to Twitter, MP Saeed called the remarks “unhealthy”, writing that the government must unequivocally condemn it and that political leaders must not put close countries into a “geopolitical mess” at the price for their own benefits.

He went on to say that the country depends on tourism and China’s major contribution for tourist arrivals and investments must not be forgotten.

While Maldives and China signed the first bilateral FTA to further our economy, enhance travel and tourism and improve overall trade as well as to attract innovation and technology, Saeed asserted that it must be honored.

Further, the MP said that the FTA will help Maldives reach “new economic heights”.

Nasheed drew criticism from Chinese Ambassador to Maldives, Zhang Lizhong following this as well, who said that Maldivian politicians must learn to treasure the achievements so as to keep Maldives-China ties on a healthy track.

While Nasheed had claimed that Maldives has been caught in a debt trap by China, Lizhong said that China does not “grab” Maldivian land and that its investment in Maldives is “no different” from any other country and that only a handful of private companies from China have invested in tourism islands which are “not even operational”.