China signs deals with Maldives during president's visit

China and the Maldives signed nine agreements ranging from tourism to trade during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping
on Monday, officials said, according to dpa.
Xi was welcomed in the capital Male by some 4,000 school students and
a 21-gun salute by the military before meeting at the office of
Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen.
The deals included the establishment a joint committee on trade and
economic cooperation, a spokesman for Yameen's office said.
Other agreements covered marine cooperation, the safety of Chinese
tourists, tourism infrastructure development projects, a power
station project, development of the international airport and the
construction of a bridge linking Male to nearby Hulhule island.
Xi also took part in a launch ceremony of the construction of the
bridge.