Former presidents of the Maldives have extended a warm welcome to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his official state visit to the Maldives.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the Maldives on Friday morning at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom welcomed the Indian leader in a post shared on social media, expressing hope that Modi's visit would further strengthen the long-standing ties between Maldives and India.
“Warm welcome to Your Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives. It is a great honour and privilege for us to receive you in our country. May your visit further strengthen the deep rooted ties of friendship, understanding, and cooperation between our two nations,” he wrote.
Former President Mohamed Nasheed also posted on social media, expressing confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives would be productive.
“Delighted to see Prime Minister Modi land in Maldives on what will be a very productive trip. It is clear from the warm welcome there is cross party political consensus on the indisputable value to Maldives of India’s longstanding friendship,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih issued a statement welcoming Prime Minister Modi on his arrival in the Maldives. In his statement, he extended congratulations to President Dr Muizzu for inviting Prime Minister Modi to serve as Chief Guest at the official celebrations marking the 60th Anniversary of the Maldives’ Independence. He described Modi’s visit to the Maldives as a testament to the enduring and multifaceted ties between India and the Maldives.
India has maintained close and cooperative relations with successive Maldivian administrations and has consistently provided assistance to the Maldives in various sectors of development.