Chinese companies interested to invest in Maldives: Ambassador Wang

China and Maldives are now in a position to expand economic cooperation and Chinese investors have started to visit Maldives for opportunities in the tourism sector, Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Fukang said in an interview with Xinhua on Monday.

The ambassador said that the current Maldivian government is trying to diversify its single economic structure and is committed to attract more foreign investments, including those coming from China.

"Since 2010, China has remained the largest source of tourist arrivals in the Maldives. In 2013 alone, more than 330,000 Chinese tourists visited Maldives. In the future, both sides could encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Maldives. Maldives could attract potential Chinese companies to invest in the tourism sector of the country," Wang told Xinhua.

Ambassador Wang noted that although China is the largest tourism market for Maldives, no Chinese enterprises have so far invested in Maldivian resorts.

He said that the "one island, one hotel" feature of the Maldivian tourism is unique, and that although more than a 100 resorts have been opened for tourism, more resources are still waiting for further development in the Maldives.

Wang said that the new Maldivian government could also initiate large-scale infrastructure projects where Chinese enterprises could participate.

Sino-Maldives relations have improved dramatically in the recent years. Government of China has invited Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to visit the country in August this year.