PM Modi and Maldives President Muizzu Hold Bilateral Talks
New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu engaged in bilateral discussions at Hyderabad House in Delhi on Monday, focusing on the strengthening of ties between their nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared details of the meeting on X, stating, “Taking forward India-Maldives special ties! PM Narendra Modi warmly received President Muizzu of Maldives as he arrived at Hyderabad House. Extensive discussions on India-Maldives bilateral relations lie ahead.”
Earlier in the day, President Muizzu received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan from President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi. He also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
This marks Muizzu’s official five-day maiden visit to India, the first since taking office, at the invitation of President Murmu. Upon his arrival at Delhi airport, he was welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, along with a high-level delegation.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Muizzu shortly after his arrival, expressing optimism about the upcoming talks. “Pleased to call on President Mohamed Muizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India. Appreciate his commitment to enhance India-Maldives relationship. Confident that his talks with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will give a new impetus to our friendly ties,” Jaishankar noted on X.
During his visit, Muizzu is scheduled to hold meetings with President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and other senior Indian officials. Accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation, he will also visit Agra on Tuesday.
Muizzu’s office emphasized his commitment to enhancing bilateral ties with nations pivotal to the Maldives’ development, stating, “Discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and further enhancing the longstanding relationship between the two nations.”
The President will also engage in business activities during visits to Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Earlier this year, Muizzu attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on June 9, 2024, and met him on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023.
The visit underscores the significance India places on its relationship with the Maldives, aiming to further boost cooperation and robust people-to-people connections. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked that this engagement is expected to lend momentum to their collaborative efforts.
In August, EAM Jaishankar visited the Maldives, reaffirming India’s commitment to the strategically important Indian Ocean archipelago, which holds a vital position in New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood First” and “SAGAR” initiatives. Despite tensions in the relationship last year, India has continued to provide development assistance, benefiting numerous lives in the Maldives.
