President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi have held officials talks along with senior delegates from the Governments of Maldives and India. The talks were held 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.
Prime Minister Modi 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 re-election, and the electoral success of the Bharat Janata Party (BJP) 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 the friendship and the sense of gratitude Maldivians feel towards India. He highlighted the 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 the frameworks for co-operation that will be formalised during the 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 centres that have been neglected for decades such as Addu City, by providing such centres 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 the magnanimity and constructive cooperation of the Indian Government is of great assistance in helping achieve the vision.
Prime Minister Modi expressed he is extremely happy with the ongoing development cooperation between two governments, as well as for collaboration in regional affairs, in recognition of mutual interests and concerns in the Indian Ocean. Concluding the meeting both leaders reiterated the friendly sentiments that exist between the two governments and their shared optimism that amicable ties will always endure.