NEW DELHI: Amid signs of a thaw in India-Maldives ties for the past few months, President Mohamed Muizzu met visiting India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar on Saturday and, as they presided over a ceremony for the inauguration of water and sanitation projects spread over 28 islands, called India one of Maldives’ closest allies and invaluable partners.
Jaishankar said the India-Maldives development cooperation embodies “the motto of our partnership – Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India”. “It will be our endeavour to harness this defining feature of our relationship & scale greater heights,” he said.
“And I hope Excellency President with your guidance and encouragement, our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision will form an important milestone in the journey of our two nations together,” he said.
President Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the Maldives and India, a press release issued by his office said. “India has always been one of the closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever Maldives has needed it,” he said.
Muizzu extended deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Indian govt, and the “friendly people” of India for their “generous and continued assistance” to the Maldives. The president also recalled his recent visit to India, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and expressed appreciation for the invitation and the opportunity to meet him as well as President Droupadi Murmu.
On his first visit to the Maldives since Muizzu assumed office last year, Jaishankar said Maldives is one of the cornerstones of India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, as well as India’s commitment to the Global South.
Jaishankar said the India-Maldives development cooperation embodies “the motto of our partnership – Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India”. “It will be our endeavour to harness this defining feature of our relationship & scale greater heights,” he said.
“And I hope Excellency President with your guidance and encouragement, our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision will form an important milestone in the journey of our two nations together,” he said.
President Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the Maldives and India, a press release issued by his office said. “India has always been one of the closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever Maldives has needed it,” he said.
Muizzu extended deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Indian govt, and the “friendly people” of India for their “generous and continued assistance” to the Maldives. The president also recalled his recent visit to India, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and expressed appreciation for the invitation and the opportunity to meet him as well as President Droupadi Murmu.
On his first visit to the Maldives since Muizzu assumed office last year, Jaishankar said Maldives is one of the cornerstones of India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, as well as India’s commitment to the Global South.