NEW DELHI (AP) — India urged pro-China Maldives on Thursday to ease tensions and improve their strained relationship.

The foreign ministers of India and Maldives met in New Delhi a day ahead of a deadline set by the Maldives’ new president, Mohamed Muizzu, for India to withdraw dozens of its soldiers from the archipelago nation.

Tensions between India and Maldives have grown since pro-China Muizzu came to power last year.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told his Maldives counterpart, Moosa Zameer, that India has been a key provider of development assistance, including infrastructure projects, medical care and health facilities.

“It is in our common interest that we reach an understanding on how best we can take our relationship forward,” a statement by India’s External Affairs Ministry quoted Jaishankar as saying.