Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday signed six agreements to strengthen ties between India and Maldives on key areas such as defence and maritime.
“There have been discussions over making the defense services stronger in Maldives,” Modi said after the talks. “India wants a strong relationship with the Maldives and believes that a strong and prosperous Maldives will be in the interest of the region.”
“Mutually beneficial partnership. Warm discussions marked the meeting between PM @narendramodi & President of Maldives @ibusolih,” tweeted External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. “Focus on further deepening our special relationship by expanding cooperation across sectors.”
The first memorandum of understanding was signed for cooperation in hydrography, another was on health, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Other agreements included the establishment of passenger and cargo services via sea, cooperation in customs capacity building between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes, the Indian Customs and the Maldivian Customs Service.
An MoU was also signed between the National Centre for Good Governance, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances and Maldives Civil Service Commission on Training and Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian civil servants. A technical agreement on sharing white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force was also signed.
India and Malaysia have also agreed to start a ferry service between Kochi and Maldives, Modi said. He further added that the launch of RuPay Card in the Maldives will give a push to its tourism.
Earlier on Saturday, Modi arrived in the Maldives on his first foreign visit after being re-elected as the prime minister. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid welcomed Modi on first state visit since his oath-taking ceremony. “Great Honour to receive PM Shri @narendramodi at Velana International Airport on his first State Visit overseas after taking oath for a second term,” he tweeted. “No doubt, this will be a momentous visit that would elevate #Maldives #India relationship to new heights.”
This is an Indian prime minister’s first bilateral visit to Maldives since 2011. The prime minister visited the island nation in November to attend Solih’s swearing-in ceremony. However, it was not a full-fledged bilateral visit. The last visit was by Manmohan Singh in 2011 for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or the SAARC, bilateral summit.
Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Republic Square. He also inspected the guard of honour. He was conferred “The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen” at an event.
The Prime Minister presented the Maldivian president with a cricket bat. “Connected by cricket! My friend, President @ibusolih is an ardent cricket fan, so I presented him a cricket bat that has been signed by #TeamIndia playing at the #CWC19,” he tweeted.
Earlier on Saturday, the Maldives said that during his visit to Male, Modi will be accorded the island nation’s highest honour for foreign dignitaries, “The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen”.
The two leaders inaugurated the Composite Training Facility of the Maldives National Defence Force in Maafilafushi, and the Coastal Surveillance Radar System by remote link.
Following his visit to Maldives, Modi will fly to Sri Lanka on Sunday. Modi will hold talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the leader of the opposition among others.
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