New Delhi: China's President Xi Jinping began his three-nation South Asia tour on Sunday night when he arrived in Maldives.
Xi is slated to hold talks with Maldives President Abdulla Yameen and will be the guest of honour at a state banquet.
Xi, on the eve of his Maldives visit, called on the Maldives to get actively involved in the creation of a 21st century maritime silk route that would link China to the east coast of Africa and the Mediterranean.
The issue of climate change will be on the agenda during the talks.
Maldives is threatened by the prospect of getting destroyed by rising sea levels due to global warming, and has been at the forefront of raising global awareness about it.
He will depart for Sri Lanka on Tuesday and on Wednesday heads for India.
