During his important official visit to the island nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla and Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef on Saturday.
PM Modi is making his first official visit to the Maldives since taking office for a third straight term. The visit was made at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.
Later in the day, the prime minister is expected to speak to the Indian diaspora.
India and the Maldives inked a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Friday in a variety of industries, marking a major step toward improving bilateral relations. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that these agreements reinforce the strong and diverse collaboration between the two nations.
Prime Minister Modi posted on the social media site X, saying, “This is an indication of how strong, deep-rooted, and extensive the India-Maldives friendship is.”
One of the visit’s highlights was when PM Modi and President Muizzu jointly released commemorative stamps to mark the 60th anniversary of India and the Maldives’ diplomatic ties being established. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the event’s symbolic significance while highlighting decades of goodwill and collaboration.
President Muizzu discussed the historical and cultural connections between the two countries while speaking at a formal state banquet held in honor of Prime Minister Modi. “The Maldives and India celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties this year, a significant milestone that demonstrates the strength and depth of our relationship as well as our shared history. But our people’s connection goes beyond diplomatic etiquette. The Indian Ocean has been a witness to our common journey for ages,” Muizzu stated.
He also praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and regional diplomacy, congratulating him on being the second-longest serving prime minister in Indian history.
With both presidents expressing hope for further collaboration in the years to come, the visit represents a new chapter in India-Maldives ties.
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