Xi congratulates Muizzu, vows to deepen ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pledged to deepen bilateral ties with the Maldives as he congratulated President-elect Mohamed Muizzu, whose party campaigned for forging close ties with Beijing. Muizzu, from the People's National Congress and a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held on Saturday.

Yameen is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for corruption. Muizzu is due to take over the office on November 17 after which he was expected to outline his foreign policy priorities.