After five rounds of talks, with the last in Beijing on September 15 - 16, 2017, China and Maldives signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on September 19. Maldives Economics Ministry said the FTA will facilitate opportunities for fishermen, exporters and the tourism industry. Maldives is also in similar talks with Hongkong.

(Comments: This is the first FTA that Maldives has concluded with an individual country.)