Published on March 18, 2019
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday before concluding her two-day visit to Male.
She met her Maldivian counterpart Abdullah Shahid and had a joint ministerial meeting yesterday where there was an agreement for further collaboration, including development cooperation and enhancing people to people contact.
Three agreements were exchanged on visa facilitation for diplomatic and official passport holders, development cooperation and renewable energy.
The meeting also discussed ways to enhance cooperation bilaterally on a variety of issues including consular issues, capacity development, health cooperation, trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Mrs. Swaraj also met Maldives parliament speaker Qasim Ibrahim and discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for 6th of next month. At the meeting, Mr. Qasim highlighted the decades-long close ties between the countries and thanked the Indian government for their help in developing the country.
The minister also visited Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male and dedicated the renovation of the hospital to people of Maldives. She is accompanied by a high-level delegation including foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale. Both Maldives and India have said that Swaraj’s visit will further strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries.
Maldives foreign minister termed India as an excellent partner and friend adding that the relationship between the two countries is indeed special.