MALE, Sept. 24 -- The Maldives Foreign Ministry said the government aimed to increase tourist arrivals from China to one million per year by 2023, local media reports said here Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid told official media organization PSM News that after he met with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sept. 20 in Beijing, discussions were underway to increase Maldives' tourist arrivals, as China was currently a major market for the tourism industry of Maldives.

Shahid said while 26 flights were currently operating between Maldives and China, discussions included increasing the number of flights.

Shahid concluded an official visit to China over the weekend, the Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a statement.