Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held discussions on a range of subjects of bilateral interest at the President’s office in Male this evening.
It will be followed by delegation level talks between India and the Maldives. Several agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed at the end of the talks. Later the two leaders will issue a joint statement.
After his arrival at the Velana International Airport in Male, the Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid and senior officials welcomed Mr Modi. In a rare gesture from the Maldives side, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial reception with 21-gun salute at the historic Republic Square in Male.
Prime Minister Modi will address the Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament, later this evening. He will also be conferred the highest award of the, Maldives known as Nishan Izzuddin by President Solih. Prime Minister Modi would be the only foreign leader so far to receive the honour from the archipelago nation.
In a tweet after his arrival in Male, the Prime Minister said, this visit indicates the importance India attaches to strong ties with the Republic of Maldives and the desire to boost cooperation in various spheres. This is the first bilateral visit to Maldives of an Indian Prime Minister after 2011.
Tomorrow, Prime Minister Modi will reach Sri Lankan capital, Colombo on the second leg of his two nation tour. The visit is regarded as a move to express solidarity with the neighbouring nation in the wake of the Easter Sunday attacks.
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