On Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Maldives for his first foreign visit after retaining power. PM Modi and his officials are going to be holding talks as well as to inaugurate a number of defense projects.
Prime Minister Modi landed in Male, which is the capital of the country, where he is expected to hold talks with President Solih. Some of the officials are also expected to hold delegation level talks in the evening.
“We regard the Maldives as a valued partner with whom we share deep bonds of history and culture. Our bilateral relations with the Maldives have been greatly strengthened in the recent past. I am confident that my visit will further deepen our multifaceted partnership,” PM Modi before his departure said in a statement.
Last November also, PM Modi had visited the Maldives in order to attend President Solih’s swearing-in but at that time it wasn’t a full-fledged state visit. He is also going to visit Sri Lanka as Indian underlines its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
The meetings is going to be followed by a joint press briefing about agreements that are going to be signed among the two nations.
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid tweeted, “President @ibusolih has announced his decision to confer on PM of India H.E. @narendramodi the Maldives highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries. “The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen” during PM’s visit today. Namaskar, Swagatham,”
PM Modi is also going to hold talks with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
PM Modi further said, “We had the pleasure of receiving President Solih in December last year. I also had the opportunity to attend the inauguration of President Solih in November 2018. My visit to the Maldives is reflective of the importance we both attach to our relationship as maritime neighbours and long-standing friends.”
As per to the news reports, President Solih is going to put heads together on Modi,Maldives’ highest honor given to foreign dignitaries, ‘The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen’.
Bilateral ties in the middle of these two nations had turned out to be soured last February after then President Abdulla Yameen declared emergency. The bitter relationship with Maldives has been restored under Solih’s leadership. Modi is visiting the Maldives at the invitation of Solih.
The visit is thoughtful of the new drive in high-level exchanges in the middle of India and the Maldives, the External Affairs Ministry said. The PM is also going to address the People’s Majlis, the Maldives’ parliament.
India is also helping Maldives in order to advance cricket in the nation. On Thursday Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said that New Delhi is going to help Male groom its national cricket team to the international standard, and will also help in building a stadium there as well as also train umpires and scorekeepers.
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