Solih and his team are reviewing millions of dollars of investments from China as well as the debts taken from Chinese lenders.Maldives occupies a crucial maritime position, just 400 km from India’s Malabar coast.
MALE: Prime Minister Modi on Saturday attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September.
PM Modi was given a red-carpet welcome and greeted at the airport by Maldives Parliament’s new Speaker Qasim Ibrahim. The Indian prime minister visited the presidential palace after the ceremony.
PM Modi congratulated President Solih and also interacted with leaders from the Maldives and other parts of the world during the oath taking ceremony at the National Stadium.
PM Modi assured Solih of India’s commitment in assisting the Maldives in achieving sustainable social and economic development.The foreign minister of Maldives will visit India on November 26 for further discussions.
This is Modi’s first visit to the Maldives as Prime Minister. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Indian Ocean island nation was by Manmohan Singh in 2011.
During their meeting, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other’s concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Modi’s visit was in keeping with the policy of “neighbourhood first”.
Maldivian economy is facing crisis as it has incurred debts following China funded projects.PMModi assured Solih of India’s firm commitment in assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development.
