Their Excellencies, President of the Republic of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi have met for officials talks, with senior delegates from the governments of Maldives and India present. These talks were held this evening at the President’s Office, during which both leaders engaged in a dialogue highlighting the forward path for Maldives-India relations, whilst affirming the longstanding friendship that has always endured between our two countries.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that President’s Solih’s decision to travel to India on his inaugural visit, following his election to the Presidency was a powerful affirmation of the deep affection that Maldives has always held towards India, and that similarly, his decision to make the Maldives the destination for his initial visit abroad, following his re-election to the Indian premiership, signals the high esteem held by India towards Maldives.
The two leaders congratulated each other on the electoral successes attained by both themselves individually and their respective parties. The President congratulated the Prime Minister on his reelection, and the electoral success of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recently held Lok Sabha Elections. The Prime Minister in turn offered his congratulations to the President for the Maldivian Democratic Party’s stellar performance in the Maldives’ recently held parliamentary elections.
President Solih highlighted the robust ties that bind our friendship and the sense of gratitude Maldivians feel towards India for all that her government has done for us. He highlighted that his administration has already used the USD 6.9 million previously granted by the Indian government to effective purpose, to invest in the health, security and educational needs of Maldivian citizens. Further, he expressed that the frameworks for co-operation that will be formalized during this visit in several fields such as education, health, maritime cooperation and various other fields will yield positive results.
This administration has taken initiative to flesh out a vastly ambitious socio-economic agenda that will drastically increase the quality of life of Maldivian citizens. A crucial part of that agenda encompasses developing population centers that have been neglected for decades such as Addu-city, by providing such centers with not just basic amenities but all the modern conveniences required by a 21st century city, that will improve the quality of life of its residents whilst generating profitable employment opportunities for their benefit. The President acknowledged that the magnanimity and constructive cooperation of the Indian government is of great assistance in helping achieve that vision.
Prime Minister Modi expressed that he too is extremely happy with the ongoing development cooperation between our two governments, as well as for our collaboration in regional affairs, in recognition of our mutual interests and concerns in the Indian Ocean. Concluding the meeting both leaders reiterated the friendly sentiments that exist between our two governments and their shared optimism that our amicable ties will always endure.
