PM Modi to hold talks with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu today; Several agreements also expected to be signed between the two countries

According to media sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold discussions with President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in New Delhi today on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.

Several agreements are also expected to be signed between the two countries following the meeting.

Before the talks, the Maldivian President will be accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan. He will also visit Rajghat and pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. He will meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Dr Muizzu will visit Agra and Mumbai tomorrow and Bengaluru on Wednesday. Dr. Muizzu arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a five-day visit to India.

Akashvani correspondent reports,This is President Dr  Muizzu’s first bilateral visit to India. He had earlier visited in June this year to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his  Council of Ministers.

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region and holds a special place in Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR and India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.

The visit of Maldivian President to India after the recent visit of the External Affairs Minister to the island nation is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its relations with Maldives.

The visit is expected to lend further momentum to cooperation and robust people to people ties between the two countries.

India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force, meeting around 70 per cent of their defence training requirements.