On 10 August, Saturday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar reiterated India’s keenness in furthering the bilateral relation between India and Maldives, stating that both the neighboring nations have an old tradition of partnership where both countries dream of partnership for mutual benefit. The bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives has turbulence in November 2023, and Jaishankar’s visit is to rejuvenate the diplomatic tie that began on Friday, August 9.
Both Jaishankar and Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer performed the virtual inauguration of various High Impact Community Development Projects in Malé during the minister’s three-day official visit. These projects include developmental projects in the following areas; –Outdoor lighting, – mental health, – children’s speech disorder interventions, and – special education. Apart from these inaugurations, Jaishankar and Zameer inked several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) regarding enhancing the bilateral relations.
Jaishankar went on X, which is now known as Twitter, to highlight what has transpired in his meeting with Zameer. These forums entailed sectors such as development partnership capacity, bilateral and regional security trade, and cooperation in the digital sphere. In particular, during the visit, India’s NPC signed a memorandum with the Maldivian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade introducing the digital payments system in the Maldives.
In a press briefing, Jaishankar affirmed that relations between the Maldives and India are based on a comprehensive understanding of how to relate to each other as partners, where each side seeks to satisfy the other’s requirements optimally. He pointed out that it is a critical partner for the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy of India and for Vision SAGAR, as well as the overall engagement with the Global South. Continuing from there, Jaishankar quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizing that in India’s foreign policy as regards its neighbors, the Maldives is of prime importance to Indians.
Jaishankar also spoke of the historical and cultural relations; he stated that despite volatility, the ties have always been good. The visit has indeed restated India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and escalating bilateral relations in various fields.
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