Senior officials of the Indian Government and opposition called on President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom today. The meetings were held this afternoon.
At the first meeting, Indian Minister of Defense Shri A. K. Anthony said that India is touched by the gesture of President Yameen selecting India as the first destination on his capacity as the President.
Defense Minister spoke of the long-standing relations between the two countries, and recalled that former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has laid the foundation of special ties between the two countries through the hard work done during his tenure.
Speaking on Defense relations, he noted that there have been steady improvements, and that ties today are comprehensive. He also spoke on Maritime Security issues and reported to President Yameen that the recent visit to India by the Maldivian Defense Minister was a remarkable success.
President Yameen thanked the Indian Defense Minister for India’s continued support in developing the capacity of the Maldives National Defense Force and the generous assistance extended to improving the capability of the Maldivian military. He noted that the two countries shared a common destiny in regional affairs, and that maritime security cooperation is an area of high priority for the Maldives.
At the second meeting, the Vice President of India, Shri Mohamed Hamid Ansari extended a warm welcome to President Yameen and his delegation. Vice President Ansari spoke on a variety of areas of cooperation between the two countries. He noted that stability and peace in the region were common aspirations and that collaboration between India and Maldives dated back many centuries on a people to people level.
Highlighting that next year the Maldives and India celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties, President Yameen recalled a catalogue of events over the years that both symbolized bilateral relations and catalyzed further cooperation. Speaking on the recent elections in the Maldives, the Maldivian President noted that the elections had been a text of the country’s democratic maturity. He also noted the importance of enhancing cross-border travel, and the need to continue facilitating further relaxations in visa arrangements for travel between Maldives and India.
The leader of the opposition of India, Sushma Swaraj also called on the President this afternoon. At the meeting, the opposition leader extended a very warm welcome to the President. She assured the Maldivian president of the commitment of India to continuously strengthen relations with Maldives regardless of political power changes in Government. On that point, she briefed President Yameen on preparations for the upcoming general elections in India.
President Yameen highlighted the special relationship between the Maldives and India, and spoke on the familiarity between the senior officials of both countries through long standing high-level exchanges between the two countries.
