Maldives president says intent on boosting ties with China

Maldives President Mohammed Waheed who is facing re-election plans to increase ties with China and improve trade and tourism, he told Xinhua amid last-minute campaigning on Friday.

Waheed who controversially took over from former President Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012 was confident that he will make a successful bid for re-election on Saturday.

"We have a very good relationship with China. We are trying to develop our trade relations further. We have a lot of Chinese tourists coming to Maldives, tourism is the biggest industry here so we have almost a quarter of the tourists coming to Maldives are coming from the Chinese market so we are very excited about that and we hope more Chinese tourists will continue to come here," he told Xinhua during his last campaign rally.

During the short interview Waheed surrounded by his supporters noted that the people are inspired by his work during the last 18 months as president.

"I'm very confident that we will win this election because the people have seen what I have been able to do during the last year and a half and its marvelous that we have been able to come to this point after all the difficulties we have had last year we are now at a point where everyone is freely campaigning. All the candidates are doing very well so I am very happy and very proud that we are at this very exciting moment," he added.

The peaceful run up to the election has been praised by international monitors from the Commonwealth and India. Waheed addressing the nation on Thursday night also urged for peaceful elections.

Waheed is also upbeat of continuing this democratic method of governance, he assured Xinhua.

"When I win the election I want to continue strengthening our democracy and make sure that our institutions are strong and that our democracy will continue to grow because we have to address economic issues."

Economic development will remain at the top of his agenda should he win, Waheed assured, adding that he would step up the fight against climate change, which is also a campaign point for his main rival former President Nasheed.

"We need to reduce our debt burden and increase revenue, we need to continue developing our country and provide the basic services that are necessary for our people in the islands. We need latrines, drinking water. We need to protect our shores because climate change is affecting Maldives quite severely. We need to build roads. There are lots of things that we need to do here."

Shortly after the interview President Waheed was warmly greeted by the presidential hopeful tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.

If a second round of voting takes place, analysts have predicted that a coalition between the two is likely.