"Not A Zero-Sum Game,” Says Chinese Media Amid Maldives-India Row (image @ presidencymv)

As the Maldives President Muhammed Muizzu landed in Beijing upon the invitation of President Xi Jinping, for discussing bilateral agreements, the editorial of China’s state media referred to the ongoing diplomatic India-Maldives row, and called for an “open-minded” for looking at South Asian issues.

Chinese Media, Global Times said China has always treated the island nation as an equal partner and respected its sovereignty. The media said Beijing respects the friendly and cooperative relation between Maldives and India. It said China never asked Maldives to reject their relation with India because of the conflict between China and India, and added that Beijing does not “view cooperation between the Maldives and India as unfriendly or a threat”.

The Chinese media said “it (China) is also willing to carry out trilateral cooperation between China, India and the Maldives. New Delhi should stay more open-minded, as China’s cooperation with South Asian countries is not a zero-sum game”.

Earlier, Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the relation between China and Maldives now “stand at a new historical starting point. We believe that through this visit, the two head of the states will provide strategic guidance for the bilateral relations to reach a new height”.

Usually, when new leaders visited India first after yielding power, considering the wider bilateral ties and the physical proximities of the nation. After India, the island leaders visited China. China has now expanded its official overseas influence, including Maldives by investing in major infrastructure projects there.

Global Times said, “Under normal circumstances, when a new leader comes to power, they arrange their visits based on the importance and urgency of the matters to be dealt with. President Muizzu broke tradition by visiting Turkey for his official overseas visit instead of India”.

With inputs from agencies.