Talks with China Focus on Expanding Fish Exports and Leveraging Free Trade Agreement

Efforts to deepen trade ties between the Maldives and China are increasingly centred on using the existing Free Trade Agreement to expand export markets, with discussions now turning to opportunities in China’s Sichuan Province.

At a recent meeting between the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade and the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Kong Xianhua, both sides explored avenues to increase Maldivian fish exports to the inland Chinese market. The discussions also considered how the Free Trade Agreement could be more effectively utilised to support trade flows and investment.

The talks extended beyond fisheries, with both parties examining cooperation in agriculture and other industrial sectors. Investment prospects were also part of the agenda, particularly the potential for companies from Sichuan Province to enter the Maldivian market.

The ambassador indicated that the engagement was intended to strengthen economic links between the two countries, with a view to generating mutual gains. On the Maldivian side, Minister of Economic Development, Transport and Trade Mohamed Saeed noted that discussions included expanding trade volumes, increasing exports, and addressing broader areas such as food security through enhanced cooperation.

The Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 1 January last year, provides the framework for these engagements. The agreement has facilitated both imports from China and the continuation of Maldivian exports, although trade flows remain uneven in scale.

While recent discussions suggest a renewed push to activate the agreement’s export potential, particularly in fisheries, the extent to which these initiatives translate into sustained trade growth will depend on market access, logistics, and the ability of Maldivian producers to meet demand in larger and more competitive markets such as China.