EAM S Jaishankar to launch India-funded projects as Maldives looks to heal relationship
External affairs minister S Jaishankar will pay a three-day visit to Maldives starting Friday as both countries look to repair the strained relationship since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power last year. This would be Jaishankar's first visit to Male since Muizzu was elected to office.
During the visit, India and Maldives will inaugurate completed projects under High Impact Community Development Projects and Line of Credit facility of EXIM Bank of India and witness the exchange of the memorandum of understanding on areas for capacity building, commerce and trade, said Maldives foreign ministry on Thursday announcing the visit.
«Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and our Vision 'Sagar' i.e. Security and Growth for All in the Region. The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further,» the MEA said in a statement.
Jaishankar's visit follows Muizzu's recent New Delhi visit for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the council of ministers. During his visit, Jaishankar will pay a courtesy call on the President of the Maldives and will also hold talks with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer to review the existing bilateral ties.
Zameer had also travelled to New Delhi in May on his first official visit to India since assuming office.
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