Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu engaged in constructive bilateral discussions on Monday at Hyderabad House in Delhi, focusing on the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the meeting on X, highlighting the warm reception PM Modi extended to President Muizzu.
The MEA posted, “Taking forward India-Maldives special ties! PM @narendramodi warmly received President @MMuizzu of Maldives as the latter 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, where President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi greeted him.
Following the ceremony, the Maldives President paid his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, emphasizing the symbolic nature of his visit.
This five-day official visit marks Muizzu’s first since taking office, occurring at the invitation of President Murmu.
He arrived in India on Sunday, where Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh and a high-level delegation welcomed him at the Delhi airport.
Jaishankar: Confident that Talks With PM Modi Will Boost India-Maldives Ties
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with President Muizzu shortly after his arrival.
He expressed optimism regarding the talks, stating, “Pleased to call on President @MMuizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India. Appreciate his commitment to enhance relationship. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will give a new impetus to our friendly ties.”
During his visit, President Muizzu is likely to engage in high-level meetings with President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and other senior officials.
Accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a high-level delegation, he will also travel to Agra on Tuesday.
In a statement released before his visit, Muizzu’s office emphasized his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with nations crucial to the Maldives’ development.
The discussions are likely to enhance cooperation and further the historic ties between India and the Maldives.
The Maldives President will also make business-related visits to Mumbai and Bengaluru during his stay.
Earlier this year, he attended PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony and met him on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai, indicating ongoing engagement between the two leaders.
The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated last week that the visit underscores India’s commitment to its relationship with the Maldives, anticipating that it will boost cooperation and people-to-people connections.
Despite challenges in the bilateral relationship last year, India has remained a vital provider of development assistance to the Maldives, contributing to several projects that have improved the lives of many citizens in the island nation.
