China has assured to increase its aid to development projects in Maldives, the island nation's economic minister Mohamed Saeed said Thursday.

Saeed, who is in China with Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef to attend the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation, made the announcement in a post on X after a ceremony to welcome the dignitaries to the forum.

According to Saeed, China has assured:

Saeed said that the relationship between China and Maldives will be further strengthened and positive changes will come to the Maldives.

The opening ceremony of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation was held Friday morning. Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef delivered a speech at the ceremony.

During former President Abdulla Yameen's government, China became the biggest contributor to Maldives' development via grant aid and lending.

That changed during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government. The MDP government implemented most of the projects with funding from China's rival India.

Maldives new President Mohamed Muizzu, who campaigned on altering the tiny Indian Ocean archipelago's "India first" policy, has requested India withdraw its military from the country.

Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove a small Indian military presence of some 77 personnel.

Muizzu discussed the removal of troops with the Indian ambassador when they meet after his election victory, but formally made the request to remove Indian troops at a meeting with Kiren Rijiju, India's minister for earth sciences, who was representing India at the presidential inauguration on November 17. 

The president met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai on December 1.

According to the president, India has agreed to remove troops from Maldives, but India is yet to formally comment on the matter. 

(This article was first published by Atoll Times)