Male: President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives has praised his first official visit to India as highly successful one and expressed hoped for stronger bilateral relations. “God willing, the strong ties between the two nations will result in increased prosperity for the Maldives and Maldivians alike,” Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, told a state-run broadcaster following his participation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s swearing-in ceremony.
Invited by PM Modi, Muizzu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to engage in high-level discussions with Prime Minister Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “This trip has been a success for the Maldives and for the region too,” he said.
Accompanied by a senior government delegation, Muizzu met with PM Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday, discussing various topics and attending a banquet where he was seated beside Modi. During his meeting with President Murmu, Muizzu expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and acknowledged India’s ongoing support to the Maldives. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also expressed hopes for closer cooperation in the future.
Muizzu’s visit comes after Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer’s recent trip to India, as both nations seek to mend ties that deteriorated last year when the newly sworn-in President demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. The relationship further strained due to derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers about PM Modi, leading to a Boycott Maldives campaign in India that negatively impacted the Maldivian tourism industry.
Muizzu’s visit is seen as a significant step towards reviving the relationship between India and the Maldives.
Maldives President Muizzu Hails 1st India Visit as ‘Successful’, Seeks Stronger Bilateral Ties world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
