President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the government is committed to ensuring a quick implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with China.

He made the statement while delivering his remarks at the Invest Maldives Forum at the Fuzhou Strait International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Fuzhou, China.

The FTA was signed during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen. However, to date, the FTA has not been implemented.

"The Free Trade Agreement signed between our countries stands as a symbol of the close commercial ties between China and Maldives. I am told that it is the first comprehensive FTA between China and a South Asian country. The FTA’s aim to boost bilateral trade and investments, especially increasing our export of fish products to China is a key priority for us through the FTA," President Muizzu said.

Maldives signed the FTA with China on December 18, 2014 during President Yameen's visit to China. The FTA with China was approved by the Parliament on November 29, 2017.

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government has said it does not believe the deal would benefit the Maldives, while its Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail said of the deal at the time that the FTA was a “one-sided agreement” designed to benefit only China.