Dr. Asim: Signing FTA with China will not affect relations with India

Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Asim has said that signing the Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with China will not affect the relations with the neighboring India.

In an interview to TVM today, Dr. Asim said that relationship with India is a friendship that has endured for a long time.

"This is, (the FTA) I would say, would not have any affect relations with other countries from this. Or should affect. Especially looking at our neighboring India, we have a long-time friendship with India." Dr. Asim said.

He said that the FTA is a very important agreement and the purpose of such an agreement is to pave the way to bring further development to the country.

Dr. Asim said that the FTA with China will not affect the relations with India and that India has been helping the Maldives in every hardship.

As an example for this, the Foreign Minister used the assistance from the government during the attack on the Maldives on 3 November 1988. Dr. Asim said that the Maldives continues to receive aid in many form including education, health and security services.

The government has received criticism regarding the FTA with China saying that it would affect the relations with India.