00:00 The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Mouidzou, arrived in Beijing for a crucial meeting with
00:08 Chinese President Xi Jinping.
00:10 The visit comes amid a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Mali, and China state media
00:16 Global Times has weighed in on the matter.
00:19 The editorial by Global Times emphasized China's commitment to treating the Maldives as an
00:25 equal partner and respecting its sovereignty.
00:28 It sought to reassure that China understood the importance of the Maldives maintaining
00:33 good relations with India.
00:36 The editorial also called for an open-minded approach to South Asian issues.
00:41 The editorial stated that China is willing to carry out trilateral cooperation among
00:46 China, India and the Maldives.
00:48 It further said that New Delhi should stay more open-minded as China's cooperation with
00:52 South Asian countries is not a zero-sum game.
00:56 Relations between India and the Maldives have been tense since President Mouidzou, perceived
01:01 as a pro-China leader, came to power.
01:03 The editorial pointed out the break from tradition as Mouidzou chose Turkey for his first official
01:08 overseas visit instead of India.
01:11 During his visit to China, President Mouidzou, accompanied by his wife, Sajida Mohammed,
01:16 explored the Xiamen Free Trade Zone in China's Fujian province.
01:21 The president is scheduled to hold crucial talks with Xi Jinping.
01:25 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, "The relations between China
01:31 and the Maldives now stand at a new historical starting point.
01:36 We believe that through this visit, the two heads of state will provide strategic guidance
01:45 for the bilateral relations to reach a new height."
01:49 As President Mouidzou's visit unfolds, the global community watches closely to see how
01:54 this diplomatic dance will impact the intricate relationships in the South Asian region.
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