At an “Invest Maldives” forum in a southern Chinese port city, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu shook hands and exchanged words with smiling local officials on a China visit set to deepen bilateral ties as the archipelagic nation pirouettes away from India.

After the forum in Fuzhou on Tuesday, Muizzu and his delegation will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing during his week-long visit, where pacts from infrastructure to tourism are expected to be signed.

Muizzu became president of the Indian Ocean nation in November after winning on his “India Out” campaign platform under which he called New Delhi’s huge influence a threat to sovereignty.

The dip ties of Maldives with powerful neighbour India became weak when the three had variously labelled Indian premier Narendra Modi a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel” on social media platform X, in response to a video of him visiting the Indian islands of Lakshadweep to promote local tourism.

comments triggered a storm on social media where India began a boycott movement against the Maldives by using the hashtag #maldivesboycott.

However, Muizzu government has since asked dozens of locally based Indian military personnel to leave. And in an apparent snub to India, Muizzu is in China this week, before any visit to his country’s giant neighbour.

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In Fuzhou, the Chinese city designated as the start of China’s maritime “Silk Road”, Muizzu said China remained one of his country’s “closest allies and developmental partners”, according to a statement released by his office.

Increasing export of fish products to China under the two countries’ free trade agreement will be a key priority, Muizzu added.

Fishing is the largest source of employment in the Maldives, where 99% of its territory comprises the sea. Aquatic products account for over 98% of exports by volume and value.

Muizzu also said his government was keen to explore partnerships under Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative, including the expansion of the country’s central airport and commercial port.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at building a global trade and infrastructure network, China has already helped expand the Velana International Airport in Male and built the cross-sea China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.

Chinese firms have invested $1.37 billion in the Maldives since it decided to join the Belt and Road Initiative in 2014, data from the American Enterprise Institute think tank shows.