China to provide free military assistance to Maldives; inks agreement to bolster bilateral ties

China and the Maldives have signed a defense cooperation agreement, with China providing free military assistance to strengthen bilateral ties. The agreement was signed between the Maldives Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon and Major General Zhang Baoqun of China. This development comes after the Maldives set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from the country.