The Foreign Ministry of the Maldives has denied allegations that the Maldives has participated in a meeting held by China with some countries of the Indian Ocean.
According to a press release issued by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), high-level representatives of 19 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia and representatives of three international organizations were present at the hybrid forum.
The Foreign Ministry denied the allegations in a statement, which read that the Ministry is aware of the joint press statement released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) alleging the participation of the Maldives in the “China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation”, held on 21 November 2022. However, the Ministry affirmed that the Government of Maldives did not participate in the forum, and communicated its decision not to participate to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives on 15 November 2022.
The statement further read that participation by individuals or groups of individuals from the Maldives, does not constitute official representation by the Government of Maldives.
China organized the first high-level China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation this week, with 19 countries from the region except for India. As per reports, the forum was quietly held along with many other events.
At the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum, China proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region, the CIDCA press release said. China is ready to provide necessary financial, material, and technical support to countries in need, it said.
Experts said China’s initiation of a new forum for Indian Ocean Region countries despite the other successfully established forums is worrisome.
According to a press release issued by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), high-level representatives of 19 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia and representatives of three international organizations were present at the hybrid forum.
The Foreign Ministry denied the allegations in a statement, which read that the Ministry is aware of the joint press statement released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) alleging the participation of the Maldives in the “China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation”, held on 21 November 2022. However, the Ministry affirmed that the Government of Maldives did not participate in the forum, and communicated its decision not to participate to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives on 15 November 2022.
The statement further read that participation by individuals or groups of individuals from the Maldives, does not constitute official representation by the Government of Maldives.
China organized the first high-level China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation this week, with 19 countries from the region except for India. As per reports, the forum was quietly held along with many other events.
At the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum, China proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region, the CIDCA press release said. China is ready to provide necessary financial, material, and technical support to countries in need, it said.
Experts said China’s initiation of a new forum for Indian Ocean Region countries despite the other successfully established forums is worrisome.
