Maldives pres. thanks India, China, following evacuation of citizens from Wuhan

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has thanked both Indian and Chinese governments, following the evacuation of seven Maldivian citizens from Wuhan City.

Seven, out of nine Maldivians living in Wuhan that wished to return home, were evacuated to Delhi via India’s assistance on Sunday morning.

While the president sent out two tweets, he thanked India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government “for expeditiously evacuating the seven Maldivians” in the first tweet.

He added that this gesture “is a fine example of the outstanding friendship” between the two countries.

India said that “this timely evacuation once again spotlights India's abilities as a first responder in times of emergency for the Maldivian people,” and that it underscores “the special and time-tested bonds of kinship that exist between India and Maldives, and, the synergy between India's Neighbourhood First and the Maldives' India First policies.”

All seven Maldivians will be kept in quarantine at a dedicated facility established in Manesar for a stipulated period, with all 323 Indian nationals evacuated on Sunday.

President Solih thanked the Chinese government and its Ambassador to Maldives Zhang Lizhong in the second tweet, "for their assistance and support to Maldivians living in China following the outbreak of the novelCorona virus."

In a tweet posted on Sunday morning, Ambassador Lizhong noted that Maldives and China “are working hand in hand during this difficult time,” adding that the Maldivians that decided to stay in Wuhan “will be taken care of.”

While a number of Chinese tourists travel to Maldives each year, authorities are currently working to send off those currently in the country via charter flights as the Maldivian government has halted direct flights from China.